The Eritrean Consulate in The Hague has been extorting money from Eritreans in the Netherlands for almost twenty years. A report in Dutch daily De Volkskant claims people are being forced to hand over two percent of their monthly income to support the regime of President Issayas Afewerki.
According to the Dutch newspaper, those who refuse to pay are subject to threats and intimidation and are denied consular services. An Eritrean entrepreneur told the paper that he was only given permission to visit his mother in Eritrea when he agreed to pay “tax arrears” amounting to more than 600 euros.
The man then made monthly payments, but when he wanted to travel to Eritrea a second time to visit a seriously ill brother he was again confronted with a demand for “arrears” of almost 800 euros.
A report earlier this year from the United Nations suggested that the Eritrean regime was systematically extorting money from the global diaspora. President Afewerki’s regime insists this ‘tax’ is needed to wage jihad or ‘holy war’ in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea funds and arms the radical Islamic terrorist network al-Shabaab which is active in the region.
There are an estimated 14,000 Eritreans in the Netherlands. The Eritrean Consulate has not yet responded to the Dutch newspaper's report.
Source: De Volkskrant
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i payed the 2% for almost 8 years and i stop after they refuse to give an exit visa to my wife.And now my brother and his family in Eritrea to visit and they told my sisterinlaw she can"t get an exit visa if she didn"t pay 3000 ERU to the empassy in Netherland and we didn"t have any one to pay that money for us in Holland.I have to send the money to free my sister-in-law and i don't know how i can do that?I wish if iwasn't an Eritrean.
Eritrean brothers and Sisters,
It is such a pleasure to see many of you with valid arguments against the regime in Eritrea.
Those of you who are blindly advocating for the 2% and your 'love' of Eritrea. I guess hanging on to a dream and an ideal that is in tatters is the only way for you to keep your sanity. Let me remind you, Isayas is no longer a HERO, but has managed to make himself become THE BIGGEST JOCK! And Eritreans ... to be defined and known as Asylum seekers!!! No CIA, NO Ethiopia,NO JOURNALISTS, NO BODY did this, ...... It is the regime, and some Eritreans abroad who want to refuse their Country (which they claim to love), and the citizens in Eritrea, the very same rights they enjoy.
However, remember, You bear responsibilities for all the VOICE LESS Eritreans. . If you wish not to criticise the Eritrean regime, at least have the decency, basic human decency and stay quiet.
2% Tax is not the issue. The idiot above who mentions the tax in Europe... You put us to shame. Tax is a duty of the citizen. As is Good Governance, and accountability a pre-requisite for those in power.
Why must Eritreans who wish to have absolutely nothing to do with the regime be FORCED to pay their hard earned income to a country they have abandoned. A government with whom they do NOT wish to be associated with?
Eritreans have NO Say in ANYTHING that happens in the country at ALL. There is no judiciary, I case you have forgotten!
AND YES, THEY DO FORCE YOU TO PAY, other wise NO CONSULAR Services. I KNOW SO, BECAUSE I AM FORCED TO PAY FOR A NEW ERITREAN PASSPORT! (You don't want me to be anonymous, one day, I pray that day will come soon, very soon) I don't even want to step my foot in Eritrea until the regime is gone, but if you need services from them, and still carry the Passport.... Then no OPTION.
The article by this journalist may not be accurate, last I checked Eritrea was a puritan dictatorship but not an Islamist nation. Having said that, What do we know? If we know there are numerous prisoners languishing in Eritrea and we can't ask why.... If the regime has destroyed those very people that fought for the country's liberation like Petros Solomon! Then, one must conclude, they are capable of anything.
Isayas is one man, please don't just blame the dictator, he is maintaining his grip in power, because of the loyal ministers, ambassadors and affiliated groups. They should all be named and shamed.
Eritreans residing in the west, Who are shouting how great the leadership is, Since you love the government of Eritrea so much and you want to pay 2%, And have no problem with extra-judicial imprisonments, we beg you to please pack and go back to your beloved country. Build it, construct it, and leave the rest of us freedom and justice loving people alone.
Our people fought for one Eritrea, FOR THE PEOPLE.
I don’t know why some Eritreans call those mafia groups as an Eritrean government. They are not government; they are mafia groups without democracy, constitution, election, education system and others. Paying 2% to those mafia groups is a crime!
ilike to pay 5% for the bloved of my cauntry if this is true like the reporter say for MILTARY iwill pay 10% as long as eritrea is safe so this this the bigest proplem for eritreas enemy they cant stop the eritreans in DISPORIA from supporting their pople & gov LONG LIVE SHABIA LONG LIVE ESAYAS AWETNIHAFASH
let me explaine somthing this is apropoganda by the west & eroupe because the eritrean gov refiuse for hand out so they think if they stop this 2% eritreans pay mey be they think that eritrean gov will start beging what they dont know is SHABIA IS RICH so they to cray & whinig ALSHEBAB ALSHEBAB YADA YADA the UN is tired of listining their craywolfe so this is not now jast sit & wach more lies & propoganda
I am absulutly baffled by the detractors are seeking to destablise Eritrea by any means neccessary! but for sure they will not succed. As an Eritrean, I have never been forced and yet I never come accross face to face an Eritrean to tell me he/she aere forced to pay such "TAX", an any nations in the e.g. in the UK residents are compeled to pay taxes whether they need a service or not it is the law of the land.
What most amazing fact as well is the new age journalists before printing any article they seem to spew out false information, there fore I question first and fore most their integrity and secondly their motive indoing so! are they paid to peddle false and lies or have they got best interest of the issue they try to dessiminate.
Over all there is no pressure or any form of intimidation to pay the "TAX" most people gauarantee who say so are external elements or refueeges claiming to tbe Eritreans. My advice to the Germman Government is to make a contact with Eritrean governmenrt regarding this issues and verify every refugee or asylum claiment to prove their are Eritreans and we shall see the truth in crystal clear and to disrgard the modern age journalists who trive on peddling false information for one reason or anotehr and scrutnize the so called opposition whoa re by far involeved in human trafficing and creating an atmospher of fear in the diaspora fo rill ends.
the reporter is not a lair he is an idiot. holy war ?? is Eritrea an Islamic state ? what an idiot. second if the Eritrean Gov must stop being stupid its always stupid. i dont know why they cant categorize people into who can afford to pay and who cant afford to pay the damnd 2% or arrange a tax credit system so they wont pressure until they complain to a stupid blood sucking Europian and american vampires. the problem is Again the stupidity of HIGDEF they are idiots. thier leader is ,loco
alles verlogen ich zahle
freiwilig und gerne
To All stone head followers of murdere isias!!!
It is not about 2% stone head. It is about freedom of people. Why do u now asked to yourself .
Why is isias in power for 21 years?
where are the dear ministers , generals, journalist, students,fathers, brothers sisters, wifes.....sons of eritrean killed , torched , prisoned, exiled?
IS that makes sense for like isias says the are wayne? are all thos are prisoners eirtean are the tread ors?
Do u think the reason is because ethiopia want get us back? or CIA want our island?
If u are convinced for this argument. you are dome .
Isias and his followers are making advantage of it . weak up dome followers of hgdef. weak up
before being late.
It is not only about 2% .
ask your right....be a mouthe to mouthles people of eritrea. Eritrean in side home land they can express there opinion. be a mouth got them .
most of you leive in free domocratic country. you enjoy the dimocratie of other country but you denied to fight democratie in your own country . losers! come on !
say the truth how is eritrea now ? the worest country in the world . the only persone who says what he want is isias. if he want shout to USA. to the eritrean inside hoem . he insult dispora eritrean . the peole of eritrean heas only to listen. no mouth. no dimocratie . No ruls and laws.
One man show!
you stupid followers says : what ever he do it is for protection of the country. when he killed people, pprisoned people, insult popel.....extre extra
All sapporter of hgdef you close your ear, mouth, eyes and every common sense to the poor people of eritrea . thos who safer from the isias policy.
You are too a commited crime big cooprating with regime .
Learn from history and choos to the right side of the history! My advice
other wise history will teach you! Look libya , tunisia and egypt......Eritrea will be free from vampire higdef soon or later.
All prisoner will test the free eritrea , all killed people bij higdef will tell the history , all eritrean will enjoy the democratice rights.
WE love eritrea that is why we did not choose the looser side(higdef). It easy to choose higdef because he seems powerful but he lost already years of yers a go his exceptance by people of eritrea.
when fail to introduce the institution of eritrea. he lost when he prisoned people with out trial, he failed when torch and ignore the people of eritera.
NOw you make a choice being part of new eritera or part of dicatore?
that is up to you guys!!
Love eritrea.
selamet let me say this I am happy to pay even more than 5% to Eritrean gov I compare with my friend he gave his life for us. 2% IS Started 1994 Resend IS ITS CLEAR THESE is morale obligation FOR every Eritrean. THE PROPOSE OF this is 30 YEAR WAR DISTRACTION LIFE AND PROPRIETY OF THE COUNTRY it can help to build the country
WAY IS NOW WEYANE AND HIS MASTER TRY TO MAKE THIS ERITREAN moral obligation been paying for 20 year now is say our money claiming with out proof our gov giving spending these money for anther propose TRYING THE money is going TO SOMALIA ALSHBABAB came on WE even try with no help from outside they try to BUILD THE COUNTRY Inferstracsuher: road: clean water: SCHOOL: and health THESE THEY DON'T LIKE OUR SELF RELIANCE'S and been good example for others THEY TRY EVERY THING what they can against ERITREAN PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT what do we do all these against us WAY? because the government not Mercenary of foreign agent .
my friend we need first our country boundary security to secured about Democracy it Doesn't came over night we need time and education first, food job health education when we achieve these and then it well come then by the way what kind domcracy are best to our PEOPLE then they will decide. how many years usa took to there democracy
woman allow tovote equal 200
you said it well brother:
we must work hard to take full details who support the regime directly and indirectly and we must create a mechanism a way of deporting them from the refuge they living. regardless how long they been there, there should be a way dealing with this people. they enjoy the freedom rule of law and justice in the West they even get fed by claiming benefits and corrupting the humble and humanity system of the West. this people they advocate and defend this very evil dictator, I call them their opportunists who they like dancing in the blood of the victim of the Eritrea people. thank you radio Netherlands and please to be the voice for the people of eritrea who they are suffering for the last 21 years under this brutal regime. there is no one and no where you can compare the suffering of this people. This people has fought very hard and long war for better of their future and the future of their future generations, but unfortunately the fight they won has been hijacked by this Man Calls Isaias Afewerki.
I didnt pay the 2% tax though I have been several times to Eritrea , nobody , really nobody had ever asked me if i had pay 2 % or not.
It is as from nnow my intention to pay .
This is another way blackmailing Eritrea.
Lets be strong
If you work and Advocate and does the evil act as your government, which is money laundering, trading Eritreans to Sainai and many more. forget about 2% they will even reward you great benefits. did you get Villa House in Asmera! congratulations if thats what you chosen too. but one thing is clear nothing stays for ever change will come eventually. be with your people ask yourself why this needed. why can't we have a constitution, why there is endless and indefinite military service. why cant you wish better life for those men and women who are suffering under the evil system of the regime. if you don't understand this and keep covering up you must be living in sin.
if it is going to make the ERITRAN GOV STRONG against its ENEMYS iwill pay 10% any time
why don't you go there be a slave of the regime for 20 Euro a month, thats what they get our brothers and sisters under this evil regime. I am sure you Pay nil.
ihope irise it to 5% iwill gladly pay for my bloved caountrys if it is going to make ESAYAS stay in power for long
you must be Adeka or Adeki B amait Amhara tgber neira and now you B HGDEF the legacy is keep going Amazing.
To the people those who defend the higdf,
Congratulation voor being a part of ,
Torching, killing, prisoning, war , slaving,gunning,islolating ,exiling, en neglecting the truth.
what we ask is the justice for people in prisone , justice for people killed with out courte decision , justice for disappeared people with out reason, justice for people of eriterea to have his institution , justice to jong generation to choose his own destiny, justice to have father and mother control to there kid, justice for all eritrean to express there voice regardless opposing the government or pro government, and for all
Law and Ruls to the country and people of Eritrea.
That is why , eritrea is not only for higdef or his devile thought but for all eritrean people to Sapport or to oppose . That is why passed away my brothers adn sisters and my fathers and brothers as wel as my friends....to all eritreans.....not only for higdf or there saporters
Now again I congratulate you all higdf saporters for being part of killing murdering and suffering to your own people.
Eritrea is not higdf or ther saporte but For all eritrea regardles there believe ,coloure and point of view.
The day is close eritrea will be back to all eritrean.
Bscum.lood loving Muslim
when is next payment of our taxes to be paid , i forgot to pay my tax
MK
i want to pay my tax now
I want nowto pay my 2.% Tax for my beloved country
I want nowto pay my 2.% Tax for my beloved country
I live in Delaware state of UsA, since I do not kow any body her, Where can i pay my 2.% tax to my beloved government of Eritrea to fund
Haileab
Cheak out your fact befor u write something which is not true,Eritean emb.in stockholm works with bank transfer ONLY!
The Eritrean govenment has been collecting 2% Tax from diaspora Eritrean since 1992. Even those in Social Security benefit are forced to pay. If you do not pay, you do not get any services. Non payment also affect your family in Eritrea. So that's when it become extortion. People are scared to go to Eritrea if they do not pay the 2% and other charges by the Eritrean governments. They do terrorise their people inside Eritrea, they also terrorise those Eritreans in diaspora. The Eritrean Embassies and Consultates are used for illegal activities, such as to intimidate dissent voices and collect illegal taxes and organise festivals to raise funds.
The Eritrean govenment has been working hard to be self sufficiency.This is only way can be achieve by the eritrean poeple inside and outside the countery.what is 2% tax the Eritrean goverment they should put upthe income tax by 3% more.We give our life to our nation forget the 2% tax.The Eritrean Embassies and Consultates are used for Re buildings the nation. God bless the Eritrean Nation Long live our be loved presdent Iseyas
why are you Anonymous?
if you are sure what you are talking you do not have to hide yourself.
be frank to yourself.
gr mengis
If the money collected was used for Eritrea and Eritreans I would not have any problem.But it is used to fund the al-shebab, and all the regions oppostion arm groups.
The Eritrean govenment has been collecting 2% Tax from diaspora Eritrean since 1992. Even those in Social Security benefit are forced to pay. If you do not pay, you do not get any services. Non payment also affect your family in Eritrea. So that's when it become extortion. People are scared to go to Eritrea if they do not pay the 2% and other charges by the Eritrean governments. They do not terrorise their people inside Eritrea, they also terrorise those Eritreans in diaspora. The Eritrean Embassies and Consultates are used for illegal activities, such as to intimidate dissent voices and collect illegal taxes and organise festivals to raise funds.
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