BY CECCO
The Coalition of Eritrean Canadian Communities and Organizations (CECCO) condemns the unlawful and politically motivated actions of Mr. Jack Mikkers, Mayor of Veldhoven, the Netherlands.
Mr. Mikkers decided to abruptly cancel the 13th European Conference of the Young People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (YPFDJ) on the weekend of the 15th of April 2017.
The Mayor’s unlawful decision forced peaceful European youth of Eritrean origin, some of whom were underage and disabled to seek shelter in a neighbouring country in the middle of the night.
The Eritrean communities in Europe have advised CECCO that the mayor announced the venue of the conference to the media the night before the fringe but yet violent demonstrators descended upon the peaceful town.
CECCO calls upon the dutch government to afford Europeans of Eritrean origin the same rights and privileges it guarantees to its citizens. The Mayor’s decision to cancel the conference rather than shoulder his responsibility to protect the peaceful attendees of the conference violates the rights of European – Eritreans.
CECCO urges all its members and communities to sign the global petition in support of Europeans of Eritrean origin in the struggle to protect their rights.
CECCO strongly believes that the violation of the rights of European – Eritreans is a violation against all Eritreans and minority groups.
