Resolution on Human Trafficking in Sinai

WHAT ARE THE AFRICAN UNION, IGAD, ARAB LEAGUE DOING ABOUT IT?

Human traficking, is a phenomenon flourishing in all parts of the world, from South Asia, to Latin America, East Europe to Europe and North America. Billions of dollars are extorted, human parts are harvested and traded, slaves are marketed, costless human labour is provided. Of course, the busines prosper according to the demand and offer conditions. There are  the commissioners, the profiteers,  and the emissaries. The European parliament resolution issued on March 16 in Brusselles focuses mainly on the Afro-Arab- Middle East cases: victims are Eritreans, Ethiopians, Somalis, South Sudanese, Sudanese, (and who knows who else) migrants and refuge claimants. The phenomenon is involving the Sudanese refugee camps, Egyptian passes through the desert, the Sinai Peninsula oases, the Egyptian-Israeli borders. Similar phenomena are being witnessed in the Libya-Egypt, Libya-Tunisia borders and corridors, and Yemen. It is a widely decried crime against the most basic human values, against any social behavior and religious principles. Unfortunately, the African coasts have witnessed for centuries Arab predatory incursions, slavery trade, and lack of any human compassion towards black Africans. While slavery was outlawed for centuries in the rest of the world, in many parts of the Middle East it is still flourishing and accepted. Of course, most of the times Africans are the defenseless victims. Where are the AU, IGAD, COMESSA, Arab League, expected to be the champions of human and African dignity? No one can force Egypt to live up to its commitments, to defend the powerless migrants, to bring to the law these remorseless traffickers and their commissioners? What about the superpowers, the preachers from the world forums: does just one article on a newspaper or a documentary on a TV channel enough to placate the pangs of the conscience? So far it is only poorly subsidized non profit organizations who have managed to move the European Union into action.  Of course, this resolution is toothless: no reward and no challenge is attached with its compliance or lack of it.  Yet, it is the first official and comprehensive resolution. And what is more interesting is that the Parliament of 22 European nations are pleading with Egypt to protect SOLOMON, a defenseless, powerless, escapees from his captors, practically roaming, or worse holed up, somewhere in the desert. This is indeed a case where ‘THE INDIVIDUAL ERITREAN COUNTS’. I wish the other above mentioned organizations would show same level of attention, compassion, and would be willing to strike a deal with Egypt, Israel, the Beduins, etc.!!!!!!!!!!! Even if only on the paper. One day, sooner rather than later, isuch resolutions would provoke a qualitative jump . . .

The scourge and infamy, in fact,  will be lifted only when human consciences in the Middle East, African Governments, Beduin leaders, Israeli Authorities will be awakened. When mass media, universities, schools, courts of justice, preachers in mosques and churches,  people in authority, celebrities, etc. will join resources to denounce in unison this shameful and inhuman crime, when trafickers will be persued by the law, and when profitters from such a shame will be made pay for it.

Christians and Jews are about to celebrate the Pascha or Passover (the crossing of the Red Sea) that marked the proclamation of freedom, of reclaimed human and spiritual dignity and equality with other human beings.)  Thousands in the inhospitable land of Sinai, but also in many other parts of the world, even outside the Middle East, are still suffering different forms of humiliating and degrading forms of slavery. May this year’s Easter – Passover be a call for all of us to wake up and shoulder our responsibilities towards these unfortunate victims. It could have been any of us, or of our dear ones.