Asmara Eritrea - September 29th 2005

 

From the center of Asmara, I take the number 7 bus to Kahawta to visit the Asmara Brewery. I am welcomed by Senait, the secretary of the sales manager, Dawit. "Mr. Dawit is not in yet". We discus the situation with Ethiopia. "Who will help us to solve this situation?" Senait asks me.

"Only God can help". I cannot find a more satisfying answer. And at the same time I hope God will forgive the Eritrean government, that is eliminating every Christian society that is very un-Eritrean, and therefore a potential breading nest of anti Eritrean conspiracy, or even directly conflicting with the current "no war - no peace situation". Which can easily be translated into a "No peace - No Jehovah's Witnesses situation", since the Jehovah's Witnesses have a very un-Eritrean belief on how to handle the border conflict.

More than once I received e-mail, pointing to the persecution and arrests of Christians in Eritrea, usually of the Pentecostal movement or the Jehovah's Witnesses. I guess it would be a nice gesture of these two movements in the US and EU to lobby for peace in the region. It would solve both the problems of their brothers and sisters in Eritrea, and the problems of millions of other people in the Horn of Africa.

In the 20's and 30's the Communists in the USA were not treated any better than the Jehovah's Witnesses in Eritrea now. It is just a matter of national security, regulations and laws that fit the actual "situation". In the USA it is the Muslims that are the victims of the "War against terrorism". In Eritrea it is the Christians (that disobey the Eritrean laws!).

While talking with Senait, I discover a beer mat that she uses as a mouse mat. It is exactly what I am looking for, I say to here. "Mr. Dawit has a lot of them in his office, but they are more than 30 years old" Senait tells me. The fact that we Europeans value old things in perfect condition, passes her mind.

When the marketing manager arrives in the office, there is not the least problem to get some souvenirs of the brewery (labels, beer mats, calendars). I feel guilty that I did not bring any souvenir from Holland in return. "Don't", Dawit replies, "It is my job to assist people like you. Your satisfaction is my reward." I carefully pack the souvenirs, and take the bus to the center and post office to send them to Germany in the envelopes I prepared for this purpose.

Next on my agenda is a family visit in Edaga Arbi and to deliver some pictures in Abbashaul, near the bus station. The girls in the grocery shop are so happy I came back to bring them their pictures. "Sit down" they order, after arranging a chair. An orange from the shop is my reward. They didn't have to do that. Their happiness is my reward. I make more pictures.

In the evening I am a guest at the opening ceremony on the occasion of World Day of Tourism, in the Embasoira Hotel. Representatives of tourism service providers, the Eritrean government and foreign guests share a buffet diner with live music and traditional dance. A wonderful experience and a good opportunity to meet new people and to have a short conversation with the many people I know from previous visits.

After the diner the floor is prepared for a feast with live music and dance for the guests.

 

Reconstruction of the railroad (painting) - Post office Asmara.

Cinema Hamasien - Edaga Arbi Asmara Eritrea.

Mosque - Via Jeddah Asmara Eritrea.

Mini supermarket - Abbashaul Asmara Eritrea.

US bad conscience: Double barricaded UNMEE HQ - Asmara Eritrea.

Beggar - Asmara Eritrea.

Old timer - Semaetat Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Semaetat Avenue - Asmara Eritrea.

Bank of Eritrea - Nakfa Avenue Asmara Eritrea.

Tedros Kebbede (Travel House International) and Doris Wagner (Eritrea Tours)
at the opening ceremony of World Day of Tourism in the Embasoira Hotel.