Baird eyes shutting down Eritrean consulate in Toronto


Niamh Scallan Niamh Scallan July 26, 2012 July 26, 2012 Eritrea is facing increased diplomatic pressure from the Canadian Eritrea is facing increased diplomatic pressure from the Canadian government after a United Nations report published this week said government after a United Nations report published this week said the country has been using its Toronto consulate to force the country has been using its Toronto consulate to force expatriates to pay taxes that help bankroll its military. expatriates to pay taxes that help bankroll its military. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is considering “all options,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is considering “all options,” including shutting down the consulate, and has “called in” including shutting down the consulate, and has “called in” Canada’s Eritrean consul to meet with Canadian officials after the Canada’s Eritrean consul to meet with Canadian officials after the criminal allegations appeared in the report by the UN Monitoring criminal allegations appeared in the report by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, a senior government official said Group on Somalia and Eritrea, a senior government official said Thursday. Thursday. The report, published online Monday, said the Eritrean consulate The report, published online Monday, said the Eritrean consulate in Toronto has been using coercive tactics to impose a 2 per cent in Toronto has been using coercive tactics to impose a 2 per cent income tax on expatriates to help finance the military, a income tax on expatriates to help finance the military, a fundraising practice the UN monitoring group says “arguably” fundraising practice the UN monitoring group says “arguably” violates an arms embargo imposed by the United Nations in 2009. violates an arms embargo imposed by the United Nations in 2009. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police assessment included in the UN A Royal Canadian Mounted Police assessment included in the UN report found that a “refusal to pay the tax often results in denial of report found that a “refusal to pay the tax often results in denial of service or threats against, or harassment of, family members still service or threats against, or harassment of, family members still residing in Eritrea, or possible arrest of the individual should they residing in Eritrea, or possible arrest of the individual should they travel to Eritrea without paying the taxes alleged to be owing.” travel to Eritrea without paying the taxes alleged to be owing.” RCMP spokesman Sgt. Greg Cox said he could not confirm details RCMP spokesman Sgt. Greg Cox said he could not confirm details of a criminal investigation unless criminal charges are laid, but of a criminal investigation unless criminal charges are laid, but added that the police force “is concerned aboadded that the police force “is concerned aboexists a potential link with terrorist financing.” exists a potential link with terrorist financing.”

Baird eyes shutting down Eritrean consulate in Toronto


Niamh Scallan Niamh Scallan July 26, 2012 July 26, 2012 Eritrea is facing increased diplomatic pressure from the Canadian Eritrea is facing increased diplomatic pressure from the Canadian government after a United Nations report published this week said government after a United Nations report published this week said the country has been using its Toronto consulate to force the country has been using its Toronto consulate to force expatriates to pay taxes that help bankroll its military. expatriates to pay taxes that help bankroll its military. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is considering “all options,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is considering “all options,” including shutting down the consulate, and has “called in” including shutting down the consulate, and has “called in” Canada’s Eritrean consul to meet with Canadian officials after the Canada’s Eritrean consul to meet with Canadian officials after the criminal allegations appeared in the report by the UN Monitoring criminal allegations appeared in the report by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, a senior government official said Group on Somalia and Eritrea, a senior government official said Thursday. Thursday. The report, published online Monday, said the Eritrean consulate The report, published online Monday, said the Eritrean consulate in Toronto has been using coercive tactics to impose a 2 per cent in Toronto has been using coercive tactics to impose a 2 per cent income tax on expatriates to help finance the military, a income tax on expatriates to help finance the military, a fundraising practice the UN monitoring group says “arguably” fundraising practice the UN monitoring group says “arguably” violates an arms embargo imposed by the United Nations in 2009. violates an arms embargo imposed by the United Nations in 2009. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police assessment included in the UN A Royal Canadian Mounted Police assessment included in the UN report found that a “refusal to pay the tax often results in denial of report found that a “refusal to pay the tax often results in denial of service or threats against, or harassment of, family members still service or threats against, or harassment of, family members still residing in Eritrea, or possible arrest of the individual should they residing in Eritrea, or possible arrest of the individual should they travel to Eritrea without paying the taxes alleged to be owing.” travel to Eritrea without paying the taxes alleged to be owing.” RCMP spokesman Sgt. Greg Cox said he could not confirm details RCMP spokesman Sgt. Greg Cox said he could not confirm details of a criminal investigation unless criminal charges are laid, but of a criminal investigation unless criminal charges are laid, but added that the police force “is concerned aboadded that the police force “is concerned aboexists a potential link with terrorist financing.” exists a potential link with terrorist financing.”

bandaw, who really cares about Eriteran issue? Don't you have something to say about your dying master Ashebir? sell out banda

Bando!
you gave Badme and now you are watching Toronto for what?

Baird eyes shutting down Eritrean consulate in Toronto


Niamh Scallan Niamh Scallan July 26, 2012 July 26, 2012 Eritrea is facing increased diplomatic pressure from the Canadian Eritrea is facing increased diplomatic pressure from the Canadian government after a United Nations report published this week said government after a United Nations report published this week said the country has been using its Toronto consulate to force the country has been using its Toronto consulate to force expatriates to pay taxes that help bankroll its military. expatriates to pay taxes that help bankroll its military. Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is considering “all options,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is considering “all options,” including shutting down the consulate, and has “called in” including shutting down the consulate, and has “called in” Canada’s Eritrean consul to meet with Canadian officials after the Canada’s Eritrean consul to meet with Canadian officials after the criminal allegations appeared in the report by the UN Monitoring criminal allegations appeared in the report by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, a senior government official said Group on Somalia and Eritrea, a senior government official said Thursday. Thursday. The report, published online Monday, said the Eritrean consulate The report, published online Monday, said the Eritrean consulate in Toronto has been using coercive tactics to impose a 2 per cent in Toronto has been using coercive tactics to impose a 2 per cent income tax on expatriates to help finance the military, a income tax on expatriates to help finance the military, a fundraising practice the UN monitoring group says “arguably” fundraising practice the UN monitoring group says “arguably” violates an arms embargo imposed by the United Nations in 2009. violates an arms embargo imposed by the United Nations in 2009. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police assessment included in the UN A Royal Canadian Mounted Police assessment included in the UN report found that a “refusal to pay the tax often results in denial of report found that a “refusal to pay the tax often results in denial of service or threats against, or harassment of, family members still service or threats against, or harassment of, family members still residing in Eritrea, or possible arrest of the individual should they residing in Eritrea, or possible arrest of the individual should they travel to Eritrea without paying the taxes alleged to be owing.” travel to Eritrea without paying the taxes alleged to be owing.” RCMP spokesman Sgt. Greg Cox said he could not confirm details RCMP spokesman Sgt. Greg Cox said he could not confirm details of a criminal investigation unless criminal charges are laid, but of a criminal investigation unless criminal charges are laid, but added that the police force “is concerned aboadded that the police force “is concerned aboexists a potential link with terrorist financing.” exists a potential link with terrorist financing.”

Bando!
you gave Badme and now you are watching Toronto for what?

Obamajr, who cares about Eriteran issue?

We Eritreans in this forum care about Eritrea's issue!!

Bando!
you gave Badme and now you are watching Toronto for what?

Village idiot #1 and Village idiot #2 complimenting each other. Tagay OJ, can you say zeraf,zeraf, Ashebir, Ashebir.

Bando!

In case you haven't noticed we are talking about the village of Badme and the city Toronto! Get it! City vs village!

Bando!
you gave Badme and now you are watching Toronto for what?

Village idiot #1 and Village idiot #2 complimenting each other. Tagay OJ, can you say zeraf,zeraf, Ashebir, Ashebir.

Obamajr, who cares about Eriteran issue?

We Eritreans in this forum care about Eritrea's issue!!

EP, I hope you are not a weyane monkey servant.

....Canadian government stands firmly against terrorist and those who suppo
rt them.

http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/books/ ... story.html

....Canadian government stands firmly against terrorist and those who suppo
rt them.

http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/books/ ... story.html

Thanks for sharing this marvelous development.

Canada puts pressure on eritrea
Chris Wattie, Reuters

John Baird, the foreign affairs minister, has called in the Eritrean consul over military fundraising allegations.
Stewart Bell, National Post · Jul. 27, 2012 | Last Updated: Jul. 27, 2012 4:01 AM ET

TORONTO . The Canadian government is stepping up diplomatic pressure on Eritrea after the United Nations reported the east African dictatorship was violating international sanctions by using its Toronto consulate to raise funds for the country's military.

John Baird, the minister of foreign affairs, has called in the Eritrean consul over the allegations, and the Canadian embassy in Khartoum - which oversees affairs in neighbouring Eritrea - has been instructed to express Ottawa's concerns to the regime of president Isaias Afewerki.

A senior federal official said the government was also consulting legal experts about possible further actions. "All options are on the table," the official said, including closing Eritrea's Toronto consulate, its only remaining diplomatic post in Canada.

The diplomatic activity followed the release Monday of a report by the "monitoring group" that investigates violations of a UN Security Council arms embargo on Eritrea and Somalia. The report said Eritrea continued to violate the sanctions.

But it singled out the Eritrean mission in Toronto, which it said was raising money for military purposes through a dubious 2% income tax levied on members of the Eritrean diaspora. Those who refused to pay sometimes found their family members in Eritrea were being subjected to threats and harassment as a result, it said.

Canada already warned Eritrean in January that the conduct of its consulate was a violation of protocols and "could be criminal." Under Canadian law, it has been illegal since 2010 to provide financial assistance to the Eritrean military.

The sanctions were imposed because Eritrea had been supplying weapons, training and money to armed factions such as Al Shabab, the al-Qaeda-linked Somali Islamist group that has called for terrorist attacks in Canada.

Despite the arms embargo, UN investigators who visited Canada found the consulate in Toronto was collecting taxes specifically for the Eritrean military. The report also said the Eritrean regime was raising money in Canada through cultural events, such as a concert in Calgary in February. While the organizers claimed the money was for "orphans and children," it was actually handed to Eritrean government agents.

Eritrea is one of the world's least developed countries. A one-party state with a population of six million, it was ranked in last place by the group Reporters Without Borders this year for press freedom. It has no formal economy and is dependent on the taxation of the diaspora for financing.

"The Monitoring Group has confirmed that the collection of such taxes routinely involves threats, harassment and intimidation against the individual concerned or relatives in Eritrea," wrote the Nairobi-based panel, headed by Canadian Matt Bryden.

Eritrean-Canadians have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to the taxation, complaining they are being extorted into giving money to the same repressive regime they fled. The fundraising racket is a concern for Canada not only because of the allegedly unsavory tactics used by consulate officials, but also due to Eritrea's backing of armed groups like Al-Shabab. "Our government stands firmly against terrorist organizations and those who support them," said Mr. Baird's press secretary, Rick Roth.

While the UN report found Eritrea had recently curbed its assistance to Al Shabab due to increased international scrutiny, it said the regime continued to "harbor, train and equip" other armed groups. Senior Eritrean military officials have also been trafficking migrants and weapons into Sudan and the Middle East, it added. "Eritrea has failed to comply with Security Council resolutions and remains a destabilizing influence throughout much of the region."

The Eritrean consul in Toronto, Semere Ghebremariam Micael, could not be reached for comment. Members of the Eritrean community were heartened by Mr. Baird's scolding of the regime but said there was only one way to put an end to the abuses.

"The answer is clear: Close the Eritrean consulate in Toronto. That is the sponsor of extortion, fraudulent fundraisers and violator of Canadian laws and international obligations," said Ghezae Hagos, a Winnipeg-based Eritrean activist.

Mr. Hagos and other Eritrean-Canadian rights campaigners have written to the Canada Border Services Agency to complain that members of the Eritrean military are planning to visit Toronto and Calgary in August to raise funds.

sbell@nationalpost.com