Eritrea Profile_12092015

Vol 22. No. 56
Saturday, 12 september, 2015
Pages 8, Price 2.00 NFA
Team Eritrea Sweeps ITT Gold and
Silver at the All African Games
General Secretary of Synod
gives benediction
Eritrean cyclists taking part in
the All African Games have won
two golds and a silver medal in
the Individual Time Trial (ITT)
yesterday September 11, 2015.
In the women’s category,
heroines Mosana Debesay and
Wehazit Kidane had a dominant
performance running away with
gold and silver medals respectively.
Lisa Oliver of South Africa won
bronze, coming in third place only
one second behind Wehazit.
In the men’s race, Meron Teshome
is the new time Trial Champion of
All African Games followed by
Gustav Basson of South Africa who
came in only four seconds behind.
News Brief
Literacy rate increased by 48%
Illiteracy eradication in the Northern Red Sea Administrative Region
has increased by 48% as a result of intensive efforts and the establishment
of more literacy centers. This was announced at an event held in Afabet
on September 8 in connection with International Literacy Day.
Mr. Gebrezgi Dimam, Director General of Adult Education and
Media, said that illiteracy eradication is an integral component of
ensuring social justice. Mr. Gebrezgi noted that progress made in the
Region was commendable and urged for sustained efforts to ensure full
success of the program nationwide and especially in remote areas of
the country.
Successful eye surgery in Gash Barka region
Barentu, 11 September 2015 - The eye surgery that has been conducted
for about 5,400 citizens in Gash Barka region has been declared
successful, according to Mr. Habtu Tsegai, Head of Communicable
Diseases Control in the region.
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the treatment they
received.
Report indicates that 417 more patients will have eye surgery in the
coming days.
Maekel region provides training
Barbari Adil of Algeria, who was
one of the lucky riders to have taken
Meron’s, Metkel’s and Tesfom’s
place in the UCI training centre won
the Bronze medal. The rider from
the Swiss based UCI centre was 12
seconds behind Meron Teshome.
His Holiness Abune Lukas,
General Secretary of the Eritrean
Tewahdo Orthodox Church Synod,
gave benediction on behalf of His
Holiness Abune Dioskoros, 4th
Patriarch of the Eritrean Tewahdo
Orthodox Church in connection
with the Geez New Year.
The General Secretary of the
Synod wished the faithful a year of
peace and tranquility, in addiction
to calling on them to extend hands
to the needy.
His Holiness also wished quick
recovery for the sick.
Efforts to nurture competitive youth
Residents of Keren sub-zone
have expressed readiness to exert
concerted efforts to broaden the
horizon and nurture dynamism in
the youth.
of the Ministry of Education in
the sub-zone, called on parents to
closely monitor and follow-up the
academic performance of their
kids.
They also called on parents and
teachers to make judicious use of
existing schools and increased
access to education.
In Keren sub-zone, there are
9 community kindergartens, 31
elementary, 12 junior and high
schools providing the opportunity
of education for 28,827 students
out of which 49% female students.
Mr. Yosief Okbaselasie, Head
Meron beat Tunisian professional
rider Rafa Chitiou of Team SkyDive
Dubai as well as Europcar’s Dan
Craven, both finishing out of the
medals’ range.
Although the Eritrean team was
scheduled to appear for the Team
Time Trial (TTT) on Thursday,
logistical problems hindered their
participation in the event.
First Conference on Combat Engineering Activities
The
Combat
Engineering
Unit conducted a three day
workshop from 4 -6 September
2015 in the city of Keren aiming
at documenting its history and
activities during the armed struggle.
Commander of the unit,
Brigadier General Tekie Russom
said that given the profoundness
and immensity of the history,
it would be impossible to have
it documented in just three
days but the commencement
was in itself a step forward.
Speaking on the occasion,
Brigadier General Tesfay Yishak,
one of the unit’s founders, stressed
the importance of the conference in
ensuring that coming generations
know their history well and learn
from the experiences to confront
any challenges ahead.
Maekel Administrative Region is providing training for 130 of its
staff on techniques and methods of efficiency and effectiveness for
better service delivery.
Mr. Suleiman Yusuf, Head of Administration and Human Resources
in the region, stated that the number of residents in the sub-zones is
on the rise accentuating the need for the delivery of more efficient and
timely services.
Maekel Region had launched a similar training program last year.
photo: Henok Mekonen
photo: Saleh abdelkader
Participants on their part called
on the unit to explore all aspects of
its history ensuring its continuity.
Different heroic feats that even
amazed their executors were
narrated and documented during
the conference. A committee
has also been set up to conduct
researches and collect documents
regarding the unit’s activities.
Calls were made in the end
on participants to submit their
narrations in writing to the
committee and for the latter to
organize history telling sessions,
and to provide public access for the
documented stories as well as for
different cooperatives of former
freedom fighters to contribute
their due part in the silver
jubilee celebrations of Eritrean
Independence.
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Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 september, 2015
A million years back...
in the Danakil Depression of Eritrea
Tsegai Medin
While Eritrea is often described
as one of the youngest countries
in the world, archaeological evidence shows it has a rich, long
history.
The Eritrean Danakil Depression which is part of the vast depression of the Danakil is located
at the northern apex of the Afar
region, a quasi-triangular shaped
area at the intersection of the
Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and
the East African Rifts (see, Fig.
1). This Depression is characterized by sedimentary environments
dominated by alluvial fans and
high energy streams, with some
swampy to lacustrine ponds. The
development of this mainly lacustrine scenario in the Dandiero
Basin suggests a tectonic influence on changes in depositional
environments. Generally, the
Buia environment was characterized by availability of freshwater
ponds and grassland (savannah)
environments developed on adjacent coastal and flood plains.
Isotope analysis further indicated
a temporarily restricted lake in
the area during the Pleistocene
epoch. These environments developed along the coasts just after the
lacustrine regressions allowed the
setting of favourable conditions
for fossil mammal assemblage.
That is, this land draws attention
to the lives of humans and animals
due to the existence of fresh water
in the rift valley, the savannah and
wooded environment.
The strategic location of the
Buia basin in the Rift Valley has
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great significance in understanding mammalian diversification,
turnover, dispersal and extinction.
It is known that the wide range
of the Buia basin was inhabited
with diversified fauna and hominins in the late Early Pleistocene.
This basin was home to different
archaic humans and now-extinct
animals around one million years
ago. Alongside the archaic Buia
Homo, a diverse and large number
of animals simultaneously inhabited the area. These animals (see
Fig. 2) were totally different from
today’s animals. Throughout the
evolutionary process, various animals became extinct, while others
were replaced by their modern descendants. To date, fossil evidence
of three different species of pigs,
hippopotamus, elephants, horses, gazelle, rhino, giraffe and a
unique species of an extinct genus
of African wild cattle, have been
discovered in the Eritrean Danakil
Depression. Apart from these species, indirect evidence of large hyenas in the Basin also exists.
Based on current knowledge,
palaeoanthropologists group early
hominins (see Fig. 3) as follows:
(1) Mio-Pliocene early hominins
(Sahelanthropus, Orrorin, Ardipithecus) (2) Plio-Pleistocene
“gracile” australopiths (Australopithecus); (3) “robust” australopiths (Paranthropus) and (4)
the earliest members of our own
genus, Homo. The evidence of
the earliest known hominins (a
primate of a family [Hominidae]
which includes humans and their
fossil ancestors) came from Chad
(Sahelanthropus, Orrorin) and
dates to approximately 7 million
years ago. In East Africa, Ardipithecus ramidus lived about 4.4
Ma. The evidence of early hominins from the deposits of eastern
and southern African sites is acknowledged by the “gracile” aus-
The location of the Buia site at the northern most end part of the rift valley.
Google map. Courtesy Medin, T.
tralopiths and “robust” australopiths respectively. The earliest
Australopithecus (a fossil bipedal
primate with both apelike and
human characteristics) are dated
about 4.2 Ma; and shortly before
and after 2.5 Ma Paranthropus (a
genus name often applied to robust fossil hominins first found in
South Africa in 1938) and the initial known appearance of Homo
respectively; presumably from
Australopithecus or Australopithecus-like ancestors. It is generally
accepted that Homo evolved in
east Africa between 2.5 and 2.0
million years ago.
The early part of the human
genus is represented by three
species: Homo habilis, Homo
rudolfensis, and Homo erectus.
Homo habilis (2.4 million to 1.4
million years ago), also known as
the “handy man,” is believed to
be the first Homo responsible for
the Oldowan stone tool technology. Homo habilis had a slightly
larger braincase and smaller face
and teeth than Australopithecus
or older hominin species. However, some ape-like features are
retained, including long arms and
a moderately-prognathic (projected) face. Early African Homo
erectus (1.89 million and 143,000
years ago) fossils (sometimes
called Homo ergaster) are the oldest known early humans to have
possessed modern human-like
body proportions, with relatively
elongated legs and shorter arms
compared to the size of the torso.
The appearance of Homo erectus
in the fossil record is often associated with the earliest handaxes,
the first major innovation in stone
tool technology.
Within this broad evolutionary
scenario of our ancestry the genus Homo from Buia (see Fig. 4)
filled the gap between Homo erectus (1.4 million years) and Homo
heidelbergensis (0.65 million
years). This nearly complete fossil
skull from Buia was found in the
Aalad Area, between the villages
of Buia and Maebele region within the Northern Red Sea zone, in
1995. The discovery of this complete skull was a scientific breakthrough. To date, evidence of a
complete skull of Homo dating to
between 1.4-0.65 million years is
scarce, in Africa or elsewhere in
the world. This well-known complete fossil skull from Buia was
recently complemented by more
fragments of Homo fossils from
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the nearby site of Mulhuli-Amo,
about 4.7 km south of the Buia
site.
The human species from the localities of Buia and Mulhuli-Amo
are characterized by distinctive
and significant types of morphological characteristics. The low
cranial height and the shape of
the cranial profile are similar to
the characteristic of the archaic
African Homo erectus (Homo ergaster) and the marked expansion
of the parietal bones and the vertically expanded face features fit
the modern Homo sapiens. This
blend of anatomic characteristics
reveals the significance of this human species as a “missing-link” in
evolutionary research. The human
species acquired the necessary
anatomic changes as a response to
various influences, such as the cyclical climatic fluctuations that occurred during the late Pleistocene.
The global climate cycle marked
by an environmental shift resulted
in species turnover around one
million years ago. This turnover
resulted in extinction, migration and/or adaptation of species.
Some species developed rapid anatomic changes to adapt to harsh
climatic change. Similarly, the human species, reflecting their brain
capacity and efficient anatomy, resisted climatic changes when they
occurred. During this period they
had already developed advanced
technological tools that enabled
them to exploit new food resources (mainly large animals).
By about 1.0 Ma the Buia human species had already pioneered
highly complex technology. The
density and variability of the stone
tool industry from Buia is solid
Layout
azieb habtemariam
Some of the large animals documented at the Danakil depression, dated to around 1.0 Ma.
continued on page 5
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Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 september, 2015
Ane Te’awite (I win):
Reflecting on Gender in Eritrea
Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion
“Bismullah…Besmeam…Awet
n’Hafash!” As we sat down to
eat derar (dinner), a longtime,
close friend of my family - who
I commonly refer to as my aunt
- recited a unique blessing. After
my mother and I raised our eyes
and heads and responded with,
“Amen,” I asked her what the
particular significance of the
recital was. “It is about having
reverence, respect, and tolerance
for the different faiths and beliefs
within our diverse society, and
remembering what our long
struggle has been and is about,”
she replied. “Simply beautiful,” I
thought to myself, while absorbing
the wonderful aromas emanating
from the food spread across the
table.
Although numbering only
a few words, the pre-meal
blessing
resonated
deeply
with me; I could not help but
recall how critical tolerance
and respect have historically
been for peace, development,
and growth, especially within
ethno-linguistically, racially, and
religiously diverse societies –
such as Eritrea’s.
Heartily digging into the food, I
pondered how although the young
country faced many challenges,
my aunt’s pre-meal blessing was
a microcosm of, and hopefully
an augur for continued, internal
peace, respect, and tolerance.
The meal was “stick-to-theribs” good; an array of diverse
colors, flavors, spices, sauces, and
textures, masterfully combined,
and all washed down with maigas (carbonated water).
But even more rewarding
and fulfilling, a type of food for
the soul, was the wide-ranging
discussion with my aunt, which
lasted several hours. She was a
member of the Eritrean struggle
since the 1970s – before I was
born! – and was now involved in a
variety of important development
initiatives. I sat in my chair
mesmerized, like a young child
sitting on Santa’s lap, soaking in
her stories and experiences, and
pleading with her to, “go on, go
on.” I was, again as so many times
before, struck by the coherence
and intelligence she effortlessly
displayed, fluidly touching upon
one topic after another, much like
my professors in graduate school
used to do.
“Ha, Ha, HA, HA!” The loud
laughter at the table next to ours
caught my attention. A group of
middle-aged men were gulping
down drinks, cracking jokes,
and slapping five – basically just
enjoying themselves. Turning to
get a glance, I noticed how one
of the younger men was wearing
a shirt with the internationallyrecognizable “S” on his chest.
Smiling to myself, I reflected
on the symbolic relevance of
the scene; while he wore a shirt
representing ”Superman,” here
at my table, mere inches from
me, was a real-life heroine. A
“superwoman,” and one whose
story of courage, persistence,
dedication, and service was
representative of so many Eritrean
women, past and present.
The
longest
African
independence war of the 1900s,
Eritrea’s three decades long
struggle was about far more than
just political emancipation; rather,
it sought to usher in a complete
and radical transformation of
society.
An important part of the latter
agenda – giving special attention
to egalitarian, popular democratic
principles – was a particular focus
on women’s and gender-related
issues. No longer would women
be viewed narrowly as secondary,
subordinate
figures
within
society; instead, they would stand
proudly as full equals to men.
Embodying the notion of equality
through struggle, valiant Eritrean
women served honorably, fought
bravely, and sacrificed greatly
alongside men in the labyrinthlike trenches, on the battlefields,
and across the frontlines.
Ultimately, women would prove
absolutely critical to the eventual
achievement of independence. In
a similar vein, since independence
Eritrean women have been key
drivers of the nation’s pursuit of
broad national development and
economic progress.
The next morning, as I walked
past Catedral, still positively
buzzing after the wonderful
meal with my aunt and mother,
I continued to reflect on the vital
role and significance of women
within developing societies, and I
thought of what Eritrean women
represented. I remembered the
confident, self-assured women
taxi and bus drivers who spoke
about jobs, “there are no [men’s]
jobs or [women’s] jobs…there are
jobs, and anyone can do them.” I
fondly recalled the various female
shop owners and entrepreneurs,
such as the lady with the ducan
(store) by my place, and I also
pondered about the farmers in
rural areas and the women selling
items in the shouk (marketplace).
Making my way past the
Ministry of Education and
one of the regional courts, my
mind also drifted to thinking
about the students, teachers,
ministers, judges, soldiers, and
administrators…all who worked
proudly.
Sitting on an empty bench to
collect my thoughts, I moved over
as I saw a young lady approaching.
I smiled and motioned for her
to have a seat. She was smartly,
professionally dressed, and as she
sat down, she said, “thank you,”
in English (with less of an accent
than I could say the equivalent
yekinyelay in Tigrinya). “Where
are you headed?” I asked. “Sirah
(work),” she replied. “It figures,”
I pleasantly thought to myself,
taking out my notebook to put my
thoughts on paper.
The paternalistic image and
depiction of “Third World” women
is one of poor women, living in
hovels, having too many children,
illiterate, ignorant, traditionbound, victimized, and either
dependent on a man for survival
or impoverished because they
lack one. “Third World” women
are “out there” somewhere, to
be known through theories and
intervened upon from outside.
They have “needs” and
“problems” but few choices
and no freedom or power to
act. Yet, here beside me, and
throughout the country, were
examples that shattered those
presumptions. Women, of all ages
and ethnicities, daily exhibited
empowerment, agency, initiative,
and independence, and they
were intricately involved within
many of the positive changes and
developments in the country.
After
independence,
in
honor and recognition of
Eritrean women’s monumental
contribution to the struggle,
the country took several steps
to formally guarantee women’s
equal standing in all sectors of
society. It signed and ratified the
Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW) in 1995
and has worked to implement the
Beijing Platform for Action.
As well, the National Union
of Eritrean Women (NUEW)
has coordinated, monitored, and
implemented a broad array of
gender-equality programs and
initiatives. In education, there has
been a focus on expanding access
and opportunities for females, and
gender disparities in enrollment
and literacy have improved
significantly.
Attention to gender-equality
has also extended to the
employment
and
economic
sectors. National Labour and
Land Reform Proclamations
secure legal protection for women
in employment, guarantee women
equal opportunities and maternalprotection benefits, and ensure
that women are able to purchase,
use, or inherit land without
discrimination.
Additionally,
several
national
initiatives,
such as the Macro Policy and
the Interim Poverty Reduction
Strategy Program, were created
to guarantee that women would
be appropriately supported in
fulfilling their potential.
Later in the day, as I got off
the crowded bus and headed
home, I saw a group of young
children laughing and playing in
the distance. I waved, admiring
their enthusiasm and exuberance,
yet, they hardly took notice of
me. As I was nearly past them, I
finally realized what it was they
were doing – racing. Then, almost
to underscore my thoughts from
continued on page 7
4
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 september, 2015
New Year in September
Meron Abraha
While it’s not customary to
exchange greeting cards during
this holiday, nowadays, owing to
globalization, well-wishing text
messages are common among the
urban sophisticated.
Today we celebrate Kidus
Yohannes, aka Geez New Year.
Happy Holiday!
God knows how many have
been dumbfounded as to why we
get to celebrate two New Years:
one in September and another with
the rest of the world in January. I
know I was when I was younger!
Over the years I have come
across many foreigners who
demanded explanations. The
common explanation goes that
Eritreans, who officially stick to
the Gregorian calendar (GC), also
resorted (usually the elders) to the
Julian calendar for traditional and
religious holidays and that because
of the latter the year begins in the
month of September.
According to the Julian calendar,
the year that starts in September, is
divided into 12 months of 30 days
each and a 13th month, known as
Pagumien, of 5 days and 6 during
leap years. The Geez New Year is commonly
known as Kudus Yohannes, in
honor of John the Baptist.
Celebrating the Geez New
Year traces its origins to the early
settlers in the area. Reasons for
celebrating this new beginning in
September is said to have biblical
implications: in the Old Testament,
it is believed that the new season
after the great floods begun with
the month of September.
Similarly in the Eritrean context,
especially in the rural areas,
September is also the beginning
of a sunny weather in which
crops are gathered and harvested,
after toiling all summer. It’s also
during this month that flowers
blossom after heavy rains.
Therefore, this new beginning is
jovially celebrated. During such
time, most of the pastoralists that
had left with their livestock return
home at the beginning of this
month.
In the old times, it was the time
when young boys acknowledged
their adulthood because being
chosen to leave for the meadows
proves a boy’s maturity; that
also gave the young men the
opportunity to look for a bride
and the women to present their
beauty.
As torches get ready to be sold...
The days leading up to the
big event, young girls go out
in the streets with their little
drums singing laudatory songs
to passersby who in return give
them some money. Call that
fundraising at the traditional
level. Particularly in the rural
Eritrea, the girls, with the money
collected,
supposedly
buy
decorations to make themselves
more beautiful for the New Year. At dusk on the eve of the day,
the streets are filled with smoke
(or its smell) from the burning
torches, made of bundles of dry
and thick wood sticks that children
carry around the neighborhood
chanting
“Hoye
Hoye.”
To that end, it is common to
see people buying torches from
sellers on pavements across the
streets.
Growing as a child I remember
looking forward to our relatives
who would come from the village
– honestly what we wanted most
were the torches they would
bring us. And then on the eve,
we would get restless until it
got dark so we could light our
torches and run along the street.
with the coming the New Year:
“Akokay, akokay…
kurae hamli wtsa’e
Geat tesmi eto…”
The wish, in simple words,
would sound something like:
“Be gone, dishes of vegetable
Welcome porridge of butter…”
As silly as they may sound, the
verses are simply good wishes
of wealth and abundance for the
New Year.
When she was done with touring
all rooms in the house, we would
all gather around a small bonfire
made from what remains of the
torches. Our grandmother would
then sing traditional New Year
folksongs. And boy, that was a lot
of fun!
Such traditions make up an
important part of the rich Eritrean
cultural heritage. Even today, as I
listen to the songs on the radio or
television, my mind goes back to
those smoke-filled evenings that
we, as children, would eagerly
await.
The Geez New Year is generally
considered as a fresh beginning
and remains to this date the
most important of the Eritrean
traditional holidays.
With the approach of this
holiday, or any other traditional
holiday for that matter, a common
scenario is the hassle people have
to go through while trying to
procure themselves with an animal
to slaughter for the holiday.
Owing to biblical traditions,
Christians need to have fresh
animal blood poured as a sacrifice
to God. Thus a sheep, a goat or at
least a hen is essentially a part of
the celebration.
How many of you have seen a
guy riding a bike while carrying a
goat or a sheep on its back? That’s
one hilarious sight which has for
long awed tourists and passersby.
Taking an animal home is one
thing; buying it is completely
another matter. Apparently, it takes
a long and somewhat surprisingly
funny conversation to make a deal.
People usually check an animal
before purchasing to ensure it
provides enough meat. There is
no fixed price for the animals;
hence the bargaining is tough.
“How much is this goat?” a buyer
asks.
Tradition dictates that you
lay the burning torch on the
ground and make people cross
it three times, wishing for
blessed and prosperous returns
of the day. Once they cross three
times, people are supposed to
give the children small tips.
After we had made a round
in our block and make as many
people as we could find cross our
torches we would make our way
back home, where the family
gathers in the compound. My
grandmother, who loved to stick
to tradition, would then pick one
of the torches and go around every
room and, shall we say fumigate
them, reciting some verses that
supposedly wish for prosperity
... so are the animals for sacrifice
“6,000” is the swift response by
the seller.
“No, that’s too much…” says the
buyer and starts to go away but is
quickly held back by the seller,
who shouts the common “tell us
your price then.”
The buyers, usually the ones
who have an experience in such
matters, shoot back with almost
half of the said price, in this
case 3,000 Nakfa; those less
inexperienced offer only a slightly
less price than 6,000. Amazingly
enough, many eventually go home
with a fine animal and at a much
cheaper price as well. But, it does
take a lot of skill to identify a
good animal and its real worth.
There is also a special Eritrean
custom where a group of people
buy a cow or an ox, slaughter it
and share the flesh. Referred to as
guzzi (fraction), it is an Eritrean
tradition that shows the cohesion
or cooperative nature of the
society against individualism.
Its concept is: as it may not be
affordable for one family to buy
and a whole cow, a feasible way
would be to form a group, buy a
cow and share it so that everybody
can happily celebrate the holiday.
Early at dawn on the holiday,
fathers (or hired hands) then
slaughter the sheep or goat. Most
people prefer a sheep to a goat but
some argue a goat is much cheaper
and has much more meat. But then
meat will always be meat!
Happy Geez New Year!
5
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 september, 2015
Reports & Pictures “Business
Ethics & Mining in Eritrea” Thursday 10th September 2015
London United Kngdom
The Embassy of the State of
Eritrea to the United Kingdom
& Ireland hosted an event
featuring a presentation by Mr.
Todd Romaine, Vice President of
Corporate Social Responsibility of
Nevsun and Mr. Lloyd Lipsett, an
international human rights lawyer.
The topic of the presentation was
on the interrelationship of mining,
human rights, and Eritrea.
The Legacy of
September 1st
September has and will continue to have a special place and
significance in the annals of Eritrean history. Decolonization was the
order of the day in Africa in the immediate aftermath of the Second
World War and the concomitant shift in the global power structure.
Eritrea’s fate was, however, set on a different trajectory principally
because the United States saw its strategic interests better served by
a new Ethiopian occupation of the country. Naturally, the people of
Eritrea did not buckle under this unjustified act that compromised
their inalienable birth rights. They waged diplomatic and political
struggles to regain their national rights and when all these efforts
failed to bear any fruit, they had to launch the armed struggle for
national liberation on September 1st, 1961. And after a long struggle
that exacted precious sacrifices, Eritrea was liberated to join the
community of free nations thirty years later in May 1991.
In the event, the legacy of September 1 to the young generation
and to posterity as a whole cannot be downplayed. First and foremost,
the social virtues and values that were cultivated and reinforced in
times of adversity remain engrained, in very broad terms, in the
national psyche to contribute to social harmony and cohesiveness.
Eritrea today is known as an oasis of peace and internal harmony in a
turbulent region where entrenched ethnic and religious fault lines are
often causes of perennial tension and conflict within the independent
States.
st
As inheritors of this glorious legacy, the present generation
remains fully committed to honoring the trust of fallen heroes on
the basis of solid unity, hard work and spirit of self-sacrifice. To this
end, Eritrean citizens of all walks of life continue to mount resolute
efforts to build a nation anchored on social justice and modernization.
Again as in the period of the liberation struggle, external adversity
has and continues to compound the challenges. But again as in the
old times, patience, steadfastness and the desire to give precedence
to communal well-being continue to be the defining characteristics
of Eritrean society as a whole today. Such mindset and enthusiasm
certainly mark the pillar of our people’s strength and dynamism.
Eritreans abroad had played a significant role during the armed
struggle for liberation. Public advocacies, humanitarian support,
other gestures of solidarity were the hallmarks of organized Eritrean
civil society associations all over the world during those difficult
years. This fine tradition is also reproduced in a much larger
format at present times. All in all, strong conviction on the ultimate
victory of their just cause, an indomitable spirit, and, the boundless
dedication to their cause were the key ingredients that made Eritrea’s
independence possible against all predictions and odds. Those
characteristics indeed remain intact today.
The event was attended by
diplomats, members of the
Foreign
&
Commonwealth
Office, investors, and the media
. The reception was opened by
H.E. Estifanos Habtemariam,
Eritrean Ambassador to United
Kingdom, whose speech outlined
the achievements and challenges
of Eritrea.
Mr. Romaine elaborated on
the issue of mining, and noted
the endorsements and policies
promoted by the company and the
Eritrean government, particularly
in terms of providing adequate
safety and protection measures for
employees. Notably, there has been
constructive dialogue between
government officials, the National
Confederation of Eritrean Workers,
and employees of the Bisha mine.
Mr. Romaine also admired
the
Eritrean
government’s
determination to ensure that
mining practices are undertaken
in a sustainable, environmentally
and community friendly manner,
featuring positive engagement
with local communities, and
in accordance with national
development priorities.
In his report, Mr. Lipsett
applauded
the
Eritrean
government’s
commitment
towards the human rights impact
assessment. He also stated that in
the follow-up assessment audit,
six recommendations previously
outlined were already undertaken
by the government and Nevsun to
address and improve the issues of
concern.
Lipsett’s presentation also
highlighted
the
extremely
flawed methodology within the
Commission of Inquiry (COI)
report on Eritrea. He revealed
that Nevsun and Mr. Lipsett had
contacted the COI’s authors on
numerous occasions to provide
information, assessments, and
interviews of employees from the
Bisha mine, yet the COI failed to
respond. Lipsett also underscored
that Nevsun and third parties
had confirmed that the Eritrean
government had already taken steps
to ensure the safety and integrity
of the mining employees (one
example offered was by the hiring
of the Colorado School of Mines to
assist with the development of
mining laws).
During final remarks, Ms. Ruby
Sandu, a respected business and
human rights lawyer, stressed the
importance of setting appropriate
benchmarks for future mining
operations, as they can establish a
precedence of ethics, conduct, and
corporate social responsibility.
A million years back...
continued from page 2
evidence. These lithic tools were
employed to exploit high protein
budget from mammal bone and
marrow, consequently resulting
in a rapid increase in brain size
and a change in the intestine gut
and anatomy. The brain capacity
of the Buia Homo is estimated
at 750 to 800cm3. This capacity of intelligence enabled them
to produce important technological innovations which resulted
in a better diet and more energy.
The Buia Homo had already mastered walking in an upright position (bipedalism), enabling them
to see enemies in remote areas,
and to spend less energy while
walking longer distances (unlike
quadruped mammals). Generally,
the Buia Homo was already a bi-
ped, large-brained, efficient stone
tool-maker and meat-eater; characteristics that allow geographical
movement and survival.
Approximately 200,000 years
ago, Homo ergaster was replaced
by Homo sapiens in this region.
Homo sapiens are therefore the
species of present day humanity.
During a time of dramatic climate
change 200,000 years ago, Homo
sapiens evolved in Africa. Like
other early humans that were living at this time, they gathered and
hunted food, and evolved behaviours that helped them to respond
to the challenges of survival in
unstable environments. The Red
Sea coast of the Buri Peninsula
contains the earliest evidence
of Homo sapiens in the Red Sea
coastal environments, dating to
125, 000 years. This technological evidence was later followed
by the Middle Stone Age (MSA)
and Late Stone Age (LSA) stone
tool technologies. Evidence of
these have been already reported
from sites on the coast territories
of the Red sea at the Gulf of Zula.
These include: Abdur, Asfet, Gelealo NW and Misse East. These
sites represent the most significant
event of human evolution and behaviour during the Pleistocene epoch in the region. Around this time
modern humans started to exploit
marine resources and colonized
the territories of the long coastal
landscape of the Red Sea. These
prehistoric localities are testimony to ancient human settlements,
dispersals and cultural interactions within the extended Red Sea
Coast and the Arabian Peninsula.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 september, 2015
ads
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Bisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following position for
Bisha site project;
1.
Data Administrator
Number required – 01
Type of contract - indefinite
Major Duties and responsibilities:•
Maintain and update the Grade control and exploration databases.
•
Accurate sample tracking of all RC and core sampling from onsite collection to
dispatch to external laboratories.
•
Ensures that all drill and geological data is accurately entered into the database.
•
Validation and reporting of all assays.
•
Monitor all Grade control and Exploration assay results, ensuring QA/QC.
•
Maintain continuous improvement in data capture and reporting systems.
•
Assist with preparation of weekly and monthly Geology reports (Tables) as required.
•
Interact as needed with assay labs to audit data.
•
Sampling in RC drilling and making sure of sample quality.
•
Ensures to collect check samples and dispatch to external labs. Keeps track of
pulp samples.
•
Performs other related duties as required and assigned.
•
Demonstrate required behavioral skills including productive communication,
cooperation, productivity, initiative, creativity, dependability
Profile: Qualifications and Experience
Formal Education, Certifications or Equivalents
Working Experience – Nature
& Length
Qualification in Information Technology
and/or computer science to certificate or
Diploma - minimum.
Experience with Microsoft Office with
excellent Excel, Word, and power point
skills. Access or other data base experience
is essential. Minimum 2 years.
Demonstrate ability to work in a team
environment and improve team safety
Leadership Experience – Nature
awareness. Demonstrated ability to teach
& length of time
and correct persons collecting and submitting data.
Other skills and abilities
Strong organizational, technical and
English communication skills.
General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work: Bisha.

Salary: As per Company salary scale.
Additional requirement for Nationals:

Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release
paper from the Ministry of Defense.

Present clearance paper from current/last employer.

Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of
your National Identity Card etc.).

Only shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential candidates for an interview.

Application documents will not be returned to sender.

All applications should be sent through the post office.

Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.

Address: Please mail your applications to;
Bisha Mining Share Company,
P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note to Eritrean applicants:
Please send a copy of your application to
Aliens Employment permit Affairs,
P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.
6
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Bisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following position for Bisha
site project;
Safety and Health Superintendent
Number required – (01)
Type of contract – Definite period (two years)
Major Duties and responsibilities.
•
o
o
o
•
o
o
o
o
o
•
o
o
o
o
o
•
o
o
o
o
o
•
o
o
o
Provide leadership to the team in Health & Safety
Educate the Senior Management team on Health & Safety.
Provide guidance for the Health & Safety team to work with other departments.
Mentor & Coaching team members.
Train & Develop staff and Manager of Department
Coaching and Mentoring the Manager (Budgeting; Strategy;).
Training of staff on all areas of Safety & Health.
Managing the “internal customer” Health & Safety training.
Budgeting for the training.
Build relationships with other departments.
Drive standards incorporating international best practice.
Research and find International “Best practices and standards”.
Educate Management as well as the Safety and Health team.
Ensure that team follows up on standards.
Ensure compliance with local and international legislation.
Develop relationships with local authorities and other stakeholders.
Reporting (Weekly; Monthly; Quarterly)
Measure and report on Health & Safety incidents.
Analyse statistics to prevent future incidents.
Identify safety trends.
Set Key Performance Indicators for departments.
Present information to Management.
Develop policies & procedures
Develop new policies and procedures in line with international standards.
Ensure Safety and Health staff follow procedures.
Educating departments on relevant policies.
Profile: Qualifications and Experience
Formal Education, Certifications or Equivalents
Working Experience – Nature & Length
Other skills and abilities
Degree in Health & Safety, emergency response.
•
10+ years previous experience in
Health & Safety & Emergency Response
•
Management skills
•
Computer Literacy (MS Office – Intermediate, Excel )
•
Attention to detail
•
Analytical skill
•
Problem solving skill
•
Budgeting skills
•
Plan, organize & execution skills
•
Communication (English) skill
•
Assertiveness
•
Flexible
•
Integrity
•
Ability to work towards strict deadlines
•
High level of accuracy
•
Discretion
•
Organising skills
•
Physical fitness
•
Self-Disciplined
General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work: Bisha.

Salary: As per Company salary scale.
Additional requirement for Nationals:

Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release paper from the Ministry of Defense.

Present clearance paper from current/last employer.

Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of your
National Identity Card etc.).

Only shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential candidates for an interview.

Application documents will not be returned to sender.

All applications should be sent through the post office.

Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.

Address: Please mail your applications to;
Bisha Mining Share Company,
P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note to Eritrean applicants:
Please send a copy of your application to
Aliens Employment permit Affairs,
P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 september, 2015
ads
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Bisha Mining Share Company is inviting applicants for the following position for Bisha
site project;
Finance Projects Specialist
Number required – (01)
Type of contract – Definite period (one year)
Major Duties and responsibilities.
•
Develop and document the SOPs for: GL and Opex Costing, Capital Expenditure, Project Costing, Month End processes, Cost Analysis, CAR completion and Financial analysis justification of CARs, AP process and Authorisation/Approval Matrix and others as identified.
•
Act as Project Manager for the NAVision ERP System Version Upgrade Project ensuring
that the existing Project Team (external consultant and internal systems personnel) delivers the
Project on time and all the System Documentation (Business Process Flows and User Manuals) is
completed by due date.
7
Additional requirement for Nationals:


Having fulfilled his/her National Service obligation and provide evidence of release
paper from the Ministry of Defense.


Present clearance paper from current/last employer.

Testimonial documents to be attached (CV, work experience credentials, a copy of
your National Identity Card etc.).

Only shortlisted applicants would be considered as potential candidates for an interview.


Application documents will not be returned to sender.

All applications should be sent through the post office.

Deadline for application: 10 days from the day of publication in the Newspaper.

Address: Please mail your applications to;
Bisha Mining Share Company,
P. O. Box 4276 Asmara, Eritrea

Note to Eritrean applicants:
Please send a copy of your application to
Aliens Employment permit Affairs,
P. O. Box 7940 Asmara, Eritrea.
•
Review the existing TM1 System used for monthly reporting and cost analysis and to
champion the implementation of the Phase 2 development of Cognos TM1 (Datawarehouse) that
enables unit/quantity reporting seamlessly (within Cognos TM1 itself) without having to extract
data into excel each time an analysis exercise of units consumed is required (eg. Diesel, Lime,
Grinding Media, Sodium Sulphite and other consumables). Also ensure that the Variable, Project
and Fixed costs system understanding and ownership is firmly embedded with HoDs.
•
Cost reduction champion – following identification of key areas when cost savings can
be achieved to lead project team and champion cost reduction objectives – which will mean effectively to reduce ineffectiveness and inefficiencies.
•
Assist in review of the Plant Maintenance Planning system which is to be integrated with
NAVision ERP (especially the Inventory on demand aspect).
•
2016 Budget Model is developed and rolled out the organization. Mentor assigned national team member such that they are able to maintain the model for future forecasts and budgets.
Profile: Qualifications and Experience
Bachelor degree with a major in Accounting
Professional designation (for example: CA, CGA, CMA,
Formal
Educa- CPA)
tion, Certifications or
Equivalents
•
+15 years of resource industry experience
•
Previous exposure to ERP implementations and or
Working
Expe- enhancements
rience – Nature &
•
Extensive knowledge of Senior Management reLength
porting requirements.
•
Strong understanding of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).
•
Thorough understanding of NAVISION
•
Ability to solve practical problems in situations
where only limited standardization exists.
•
Effective interpersonal and communication skills
Other skills and
•
Able to handle multiple tasks with minimum superabilities
vision.
•
Flexible, detailed orientated, with strong self-initiative and follow-through.
•
Lays out work in a well-planned and organised
manner.
•
Establishes goals and objectives which are specific,
measurable, achievable and relevant.
General Information and other requirements:

Place of Work: 
Salary: Bisha.
As per Company salary scale.
NOTICE
UNFPA notice for the recruitment of national consultant “Survey on Availability of
Contraceptive & lifesaving MHD SDP - dated Saturday 5, September, 2015 in Eritrea
Profile, the closing date for the announcement is 10 working days from the date of
announcement.
Ane Te’awite (I win):...
continued from page 3
the previous two days, a small girl, her
spindly little legs propelling her far ahead
of the rest of the boys and girls, proudly
announced, “Ane Te’awite! Ane Te’awite! (I
win! I win!).”
Yes you can. Yes you did.
Eritrea’s diverse efforts towards
promoting equality, coupled with gradual yet noticeable - societal cultural changes,
have seen women integrated into many
sectors of society and the economy,
allowing them to play a vital role in the
country’s development and progress.
Women now constitute between 35%-45%
of the workforce, and they remain very
active in the informal sector. While women
have traditionally been concentrated in
manufacturing - such as the garment, leather,
and tobacco industries - improvements in
education and expanded opportunities have
meant that more women are transitioning to
high-skilled sectors.
Notably, today many women proudly own
land, often using it for farming or to build
houses. Their ownership also extends to
business, where they retain control over 40%
of all small and medium-sized enterprises.
Impressively, the largest manufacturing
factory in Eritrea is owned by a woman.
Finally, Eritrea’s nascent mining sector has
received strong impetus from women; they
perform a variety of construction, driving,
administrative, technical and managerial
functions.
Around the world, it has long been the
rule that women are inferior, with little to
contribute to society. In Eritrea, an old,
backwards proverb states that “like there is
no donkey with horns, there is no woman with
brains.” However, from the days of the long
struggle and since independence, Eritrean
women have proven resilient exceptions
to such outdated, patriarchal rules through
their wholehearted participation, struggle,
contributions, and sacrifice. Today, Eritrean
women are contributing in all areas of
society and in many diverse, important
ways, ultimately playing a crucial role in
the country’s general development and
socio-economic improvement.
Eritrea Profile, Saturday, 12 september, 2015
8
Understanding Eritrea’s
struggle for development
Recently, the YPFDJ held its annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Today, we are privileged to speak with Eric Dreitser, a prominent independent journalist and
political analyst, and one of the marquee speakers at the conference. Dreitser shares his thoughts on a range of topics and helps to contextualize Eritrea’s focus on
self-reliance, independence, and development.
Dr. Fikrejesus Amahazion
Could you share a little about
your background and your work?
I am an independent journalist
and political analyst based in New
York City. I am a regular contributor to RT, TeleSur, CounterPunch,
TruthOut, New Eastern Outlook,
Global Research, Press TV, and a
number of other media outlets. My
written work has been translated
into more than a dozen languages,
and has appeared in many publications internationally.
My academic background is varied: BA in Art History, Master's in
Creative Writing (MFA), and Master's in Education (MS.ed). I founded my website after the beginning
of the Occupy movement in which
I was active. It became an outlet
for my politics and writing, an avenue through which my activism and
interest in political analysis could
come together and, hopefully, positively impact issues both in the US
and globally.
What first got you interested
in issues of international affairs,
politics, security, conflict, etc. In
your eyes, why are these topics so
important?
This is a complicated question
because, in many ways, I have always been interested in these issues. Even as a young child I remember being fascinated with the
news and global events, geography
and history, politics and economics.
As I matured, and my political outlook evolved, I began to incorporate these interests into what could
be called a more coherent ideological framework, and began to see the
connections between all these issues; put simply, I evolved a worldview, one that could be described
principally "Third Worldist”. The
more I studied political and revolutionary theory, history, and related
topics, the more I came to realize
the importance of being a principled and dedicated revolutionary in
my own right, one who could use
his mind and other natural abilities
to help comrades and oppressed
people around the world.
I came to see the connection between empire, colonialism, and the
situation of the world today. Being
born in 1983, I came of age in the
early post-Cold War period, a time
in which it had become unfashionable to talk about Empire and colonialism, as if these systems had
simply disappeared, had become
relics of a bygone era. On the contrary, the more I closely examined
our world, the more I came to understand the nature of the contemporary manifestations of these systems, and I began to explore those
countries and peoples targeted by
them.
This is not to say that I view all
conflicts and political and geopolitical issues solely through an ideological prism. I also highly value
analysis that attempts to present an
objective viewpoint (the extent to
which this is actually possible or
desirable is the subject of debate,
to be sure). Rather, this is to provide some context for understanding why I take so seriously issues
such as the Eritrean struggle which,
sadly, is not regarded as important
by most people in the "West" or the
"Global North."
In recent years you've done
some work on Eritrea…what was
your introduction to the country?
I had read a bit about the independence struggle and the EPLF, but
wasn't terribly familiar with the history of the country, the relationship
to colonialism both from Europe
and Ethiopia, or any of the other vital issues. But I began to research
the history on my own, and built off
the work of people like my friend
and colleague Thomas Mountain,
and began to see the importance of
Eritrea in the international context.
And of course, I understand perfectly that those countries demonized, vilified, and sanctioned by
the US and its allies are generally
doing something that undermines
their agenda.
In looking at the issues carefully,
it became clear that Eritrea was
attempting to develop itself both
economically and socially outside
the hegemony and domination of
the Empire, that it sought an independent development path that set
it apart from nearly every other African country of the post-colonial
period. And, as such, it was clear
to me that the country had to be defended, that it deserved to have my
voice in support of it. For me, Eritrea is more than simply an African
country that is doing things its own
way. It is an important example that
the legacy of national liberation,
and true independence in Africa is
not dead, that it has not simply become passé.
I understand you recently attended the YPFDJ conference in
Las Vegas, what were your impressions? What was your presentation
about?
I was deeply impressed with the
conference for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the thing
that stuck out to me was the energy and enthusiasm of the young
people in attendance. So many of
them seemed genuinely interested
in learning and exchanging information, not simply because they're
patriotic and are imbued with a
sense of pride in their country and
culture, but also because they feel
the need to be actively engaged in
the struggle of the Eritrean people.
This I found very striking. There did
not seem to be the apathy and resignation that I've encountered with so
many other groups of young people.
I taught 16-18 year old students for
a few years, but I rarely, if ever, saw
the level of engagement and interest that I saw with the youth of the
conference. This gives me hope in
the future of Eritrea and the struggle for its true political, economic,
and socio-cultural independence.
My presentation focused on a
few of the points I've already mentioned, specifically about Empire
and how it operates in the 21st
Century. I discussed the institutions and means by which the Empire exercises its hegemony, how it
coerces and dominates smaller nations, and the agenda behind this.
I examined why Eritrea has been
targeted (e.g. the danger of a good
example), and the various ways in
which Eritrea has been attacked.
One particular area that I discussed
was propaganda and the use of
information (and disinformation/
misinformation). I discussed the
corporate media system and how it
relates to the Empire broadly, and
tried to convey just why Eritrea is
smeared publicly by everyone from
CNN and the BBC to the United
Nations.
But my discussion was not simply about lamenting the unfair media coverage, it was (hopefully) to
inspire young people to action, to
help them to understand that their
role in this ongoing struggle is
also to counter the propaganda, to
put themselves on the front line of
the information war, and to utilize
and leverage all platforms at their
disposal, from social media such
as Face book and Twitter, to creating blogs, and websites, podcasts
and YouTube channels, to bring
the truth about Eritrea to as many
people as possible. I discussed the
importance of creating solidarity
networks not only within the Eritrean Diaspora community, but also
within their schools, peer groups,
circles of non-Eritrean friends, etc.
In other words, I discussed the critical importance of "mainstreaming"
Eritrea.
Finally, one other critical aspect
of my presentation was the importance of international solidarity
work.
The general public is either unaware of Eritrea or has a large
misconception about the country.
Why is this so? How can this be
remedied?
There are a number of factors accounting for the lack of knowledge
about Eritrea. Most people in the
West simply have no concept of
African peoples, they know little
about the nations of the continent,
about their struggles, etc. What little
they do know is completely distorted through the prism of controlled
corporate media and its propaganda
machine. In effect, the media serves
as an arm of the Empire, acting to
shape narratives and discourse, to
frame what is acceptable and what
is not, to construct knowledge and
determine what truth is and what
are lies.
This fundamental aspect of media
- control of information and knowledge construction - is what has to
be undermined through organization and activism. This was part of
my presentation, namely that those
who *DO* know the truth about
Eritrea, and who are not afraid to
speak it, must become part of the
counter-narrative. They must utilize their own media, their own
grassroots networks, and their own
communities to not only denounce
the lies, but to counter them. Narratives are only as strong as the belief
in them. Once that is eroded, the
narrative falls away. That is the job
of activists, be they Eritrean, like
my comrades at the conference, or
non-Eritreans who stand in solidarity, like myself.
Thank you so much, Mr. Draitser. We highly appreciate your time,
greatly admire your work, and
hope that you will visit us in Eritrea
soon.
Thank you. I look forward to it.