DAKAR, Senegal (PANA) - The Eritrean
government Thursday urged the international community to help protect the
property and interests of its citizens deported from Ethiopia.
Responding to reports that "Ethiopia
is taking legal action to recover debts from Eritreans who have left the
country," Asmara condemned the move as "the finishing touches
on a programme of state-sponsored larceny."
Presidential advisor Yemane Ghebremeskel said "this is nothing more than state robbery.
"These people, whom they are claiming defaulted, were rounded up and deported often within hours," he told the national news agency.
"Through this process now, the government is Addis Ababa is attempting to legalise its confiscation of private property and investments."
He said the move is completely unacceptable, adding that Ethiopia is signatory to a number of international and regional instruments, such as the COMESA treaty, that protect private investment.
"This judicial pretence is offensive. The international community must put an end to this kangaroo court," he said.
Over 68,000 Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin have been deported from Ethiopia.
The total value of goods and property they were forced to abandon is estimated to exceed 800 million US dollars.
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