The Eritrean Australian youth movement known as “Birged Nhamedu” warns Australian authorities to cancel a politically motivated militaristic show at the Melbourne festival, full of hate speeches aimed at promoting the brutal Eritrean dictatorial regime that caused grave human rights violations of the Eritrean people.

Eritrean Birged Nhamedu from all over Australia will gather and make a peaceful demonstration in front of the Polish Club (19 Carrington Drive, Albion), where this event occurred between 11 and 14 January, 2024, if authorities don’t stop the event. In the last eight months, members of Birged Nhamedu and Eritrean justice seekers have been trying to engage several Australian authorities and government officials, including police, and have written various letters explaining the intent of the festival and urging them to cancel it.

This taxpayer-funded, non-inclusive militaristic festival is organised by the longarm members of Eritrean dictator Isaias Afewerki under the Eritrean National Communities Council Inc. in Melbourne. The festival organisers invite high-ranking People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (the only political party in Eritrea) officials to give politically motivated speeches and seminars. Since 2001, these officials have incited hate messages and compromised the safety and unity of the Eritrean community in Australia by disseminating the government’s unrealistic propaganda about Eritrea to create “illusion” in the Eritrean community by empowering the oppressive dictatorial regime of Afewerki.

Eritrea is a nation located in the Horn of Africa on the Red Sea coast that won its independence from Ethiopia in 1991. For the last 32 years, the country has been ruled with an iron fist by the Eritrean dictator Isaias Afewerki without a constitution, free and fair elections, or any form of rule of law. Since 1995, Eritrean youth have been forced to serve in an indefinite military service akin to slavery. These Eritrean youth are horrendously abused under such practices, with no viable option to fulfil their personal aspirations of education, professional growth, and family lives, and forced to leave the country illegally.

Justin Lance Marcel Lavadia

+ posts

Justin Lavadia is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum with a diverse writing background spanning various niches and formats. With a wealth of experience, he brings clarity and concise communication to digital content. His expertise lies in crafting engaging content and delivering impactful narratives that resonate with readers.

• Safeguarding data privacy in national infrastructure
• Businesses to drive data privacy’s security standards
• Government on boosting data analytics workforce
• Australia to strengthen data sharing protections