Award winning independent producer Afshin Rattansi has released the groundbreaking documentary “Eritrea: A Nation In Isolation” on PressTV.
The first authentic documentary on Eritrea since its independence 21 years ago and filmed in Eritrea during the carnival week leading up to Independence Day, Afshin and his crew seemed to have gone everywhere.
All unannounced and spontaneous. From secondary school classrooms to the crèche in Eritrea’s largest textile factory. From the first Islamic house of worship built on African shores to the Tank Cemetery, where Eritrea has collected many of the thousands of Ethiopian tanks its fighters destroyed in 30 years of independence warfare.
And especially on the streets to see over 100,000 mainly young people crowding the streets every night marked by an absence of robberies, fights, drunkenness or public disorder. The excitement of the Eritrean youth seemed to have become contagious, catching hold of Afshin’s crew and the usual skepticism they are noted for melted away on seeing for themselves what a nationalistic high everyone was on. A week of partying in the streets by hundreds of thousands and not a firearm in sight speaks for itself one will find.
Having shared the experience firsthand, six times now since moving to Eritrea in 2006, I may have become a bit blasé about something so extraordinary, but Afshin and his posse’s being here to share this with us rekindled my sense of enthusiasm and every night found me dancing in front of a string of stages set up along Liberation Avenue in the heart of the capital Asmara.
“Eritrea: A Nation In Isolation” captures the spirit of what could arguably be called Africa’s one real success story, with the fastest growing economy and lowest rate of HIV/AIDS infections. And all the while having to fend of a string of armed assaults by the western funded Ethiopia army.
For once a journalist documented the real, on the ground based reality of this little country smack in the middle of the Horn of Africa, now one of the most strategically critical regions in the world. My only regret is that at a short 25 minutes, the scheduled time slot for docs on PressTV, Afshin had to cover too much ground too quickly. Isolating a nation is what the west maybe trying to do, but as Afshin’s contribution to the historic record shows, it isn’t working.
I am Eritrean, 36 year old, lived all my life in Eritrea. Upon reading this page, I am guessing you are not talking about Eritrea. This is Eritrea:
1. Thousands fleeing my country every month to flee forced conscription or modern day slavery
2. Thousands put to jail for expressing their opinion
3. The world’s leading country in arresting journalists and silencing opposition
4. Almost no electricity, gas, water supply
5. Very very high corruption, especially by the military [mind you everyone is a soldier in Eritrea] from 18 year old to 70 year old
6. No freedom of religion
7. Night clubs and bars work like no other business, because nothing else is almost allowed to work
Now that is Eritrea sadly.
Do you still live in Eritrea? Are you just visiting the country from which you posted that comment, or is that your residence now?
As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Thanks for the first person reporting and the follow up article. I am sure you will get many trolls to counter the reality on the ground.
Mr. Hammond are you saying this report reflects the Eritrean reality or do you want to know from where he is writing.
Was my question that unclear to you? I know where he is writing from. He is not in Eritrea. Hence my question.
I am like the thousands of Eritreans who fled the deplorable state of governance. Why do you ask Mr. Hammond?
Because you said you “lived all my life in Eritrea”. But you aren’t writing from Eritrea. And now you say you fled the country, which means you must be living elsewhere, which means you haven’t lived all your life in Eritrea. When did you leave the country?
This is getting boring Mr. Hammond, I left my country two months before [if that helps you understand my comment more] well two months out of 36 years …. talk about Eritrea please [this is not about me, it is about my country]
Thanks for clarifying.
Here are some facts:
http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2011-2012,1043.html
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,FREEHOU,,ERI,,4e049a4828,0.html
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/eritrea
Now look at the clips below: The kidnapping of Eritreans in Sinai.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcxGwRIn-2w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa2ZZLsyaew
Writing incorrect facts about Eritrea that apparently pleases the people in power now might guarantee the producer a next visa to Eritrea but it sends a wrong message to the world, so please give the correct account and if you can’t please don’t do it.
Thank you for this video I am sure it will stir up so many beautiful memories of the country to those of us that lived there once upon a time.
Is this a joke:( ?
No wonder you’ were allowed to file, it would being better if you have covered the true story of the people and your follow journalist who are living in fear of their lives, for simply telling the truth. You should be ashamed to write such an articl. Bytheway, off course you’re an awared winning producer! When you write lies which what your bosses want. You’re a popet.
Thomas C. Mountain’s another deplorable journalism. As soon as the government in Asmara is gone watch your back. Yes Eritrea is a beautiful country with wonderful people but also notorious for resisting heartless dictators and their cronies. The last thing Eritreans like me want is another disilusioned American enjoying his right to cross his own government views while helping deny others that same right.
I think Mr. Rattansi documentary is great well presented. He went to places un announced and filmed whatever and wherever he wanted, Unlike the west always claims to be that Eritrea or Eritrean government for that matter restricts movement of any foreigner in the country but that is not true and this documentary is your prove and the one Al Jezira did a couple of years ago. For all of you people who are posting here negatively this documentary is not a propaganda but a real deal. I am not pro government but I see from different angle. So kudos to Mr. Rattansi.
Thanks
Well to tell you frankly, this documnetary by the Press TV only pressent the one face of the coin while ignoring the second face. If we are going to take this one as a credible one it should show the two sides of the coin. The pretentious peace full country is only presented. What about the OPEN PRISON version! I hope some day the journalist will finish the job by telling the world the real second image of the country ERITREA.
AMAN, Abraham, and Noname, You Guys are either Ethiopians Esp. Agames or Opportunist, Spoiler Eritreans, We Eritreans don’t want to get trap in to NEOCON, or Kneel down, and we love our Leadres!!
ETHIOPIAN! this is an old fashion which was used by people like you to cover the truth. who ever is against the government to call Agame or whatever, shows that how uneducated you’re.
let me tell you, first and foremost you need to learn to respect people, Ethiopians are like you (regardless where you from). Secondly you should welcome people with different opinions and share your view rather than labelling names & insulting, lastly DON NOT PRETEND like our country isn’t in bad condition. grow up it’s 21st century. Yes You Know it, that short doc can only fool people with narrow minded. ask yourself you might be one of them
Thomas C. Mountain, Is this a joke ? You are a disgusting human being to lie like this. The “documentary” by press TV is all staged.
You opposition idiots are the ones helping the agames destabilize our country. You guys are brainwashed idiots. If you claim Eritrea then you should be doing anything to see it rise and grow to help our family as a whole(our country as a whole). Why would you try to create war within a country you are so claiming to “help” by continuing to help and give the dirty american gov. You need to be patient. It is a cliche but Rome was not built in a day. We need to stick together as one and let nothing distract us from prospering. AWET NE HAFASH
Mr. Afshin Rattansi with all the respect can you do the same Documentary where the Eritreans refugees are? I will give you a hint of places in Ethiopia there are 4 Refugees camps holding 60,000 Refugees and in Sudan there are several of them with over 50,000 Refugees but you want to go a little further you check SINAI Egypt, Swiss, Sweden, Italy, UK, Malta, Lybia,Tunisia,Yemen, Djioubuti, Kenya. These are the places where thousands Eritreans who left their home country due to the hardship and suffering under the most Brutal Dictator in Africa Isayas Afewrki. Please do not believe he is as nice as he was with you, he did it for the sole purpose of propaganda after all you work for PRESS TV.
http://www.eepa.be/wcm/dmdocuments/publications/Report_Human_Trafficking_in_the_Sinai_Final.pdf
This is not journalism, this is propaganda. So please “foreignpolicyjournal.com”, check the sources before giving pseudo-reporters as Mr. Mountain and Mr. Afshin credit.
It is so poorly argumented, that they both keep repeating “unannounced” so many times that it becomes embarassing for them and for the readers/watchers. This is showing very poor respect for the public.
What about Eritrea isolationg itself, transforming itself in a huge prison, his youth running away by thousand every month. Refugees scattered all over the world. Inside the country: paranoia, violence, forced conscription, arming civilians, lacking of ressources, of water, of food, of freedom of speech and belief, and so on……..
I’d like to add to Aman’s and Yona’s links a couple of reports: http://www.hrw.org/world-report-2012/world-report-2012-eritrea
http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/horn-of-africa/ethiopia-eritrea/163-eritrea-the-siege-state.aspx
http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/eritrea
Mr. Aman 36 yrs old. Eritrean strugle AGAINST ALL ODDS. Is far beyond 36yrs. The miracilios seting of the leadership of Eritrea and Eritreans at all is not easy target. You tried to put some points as evidence. Ither you are poor innocent or you dont want to see that is the so called super powers behind all your mensioned points. Answer to all your points? You should ask your self. Why the super powers are not emplementing The final and binding rule.?Why skape goat try to sanction Eritrea? Why tantouning Ethiopia when the country violates the rule of law………………………
Maybe u see read and hear too many propoganda lies Awate, Asmarino, Asena…………But I asure you NEVER folowed THE REAL ERITREA. U R STEEL BARKING AND YOUR VIOCE IS GETING OLD AND STINK. Edritrea is not only the fastest growing. Self reliant, as Ashif mantiond to you, IN ONLY 21YRS AGAINST ALL ODDS, AGAINST SUPER POWERS AND THEIS DIRTY WORK. MOVING LIKE A ROCKET. GLORY TO ERITREA. THELALEMAWI ZIKRI NISEMATATNA. Stupid stinking ppl like u, only one or two years to zip your unbrushed mouth
Silly report I would say. Wedi gobo/ bribed/ is the nick name of Mr. Rassanti among the Eritreans who know the Eritrea.
this is a typical selective journalism….. He went to places unannounced??? is that a joke ????? did he at least ask what happened to those who reported unannounced news …. hypocritical at it’s best!!! by the way when i was back home ,if any foreign journalist asked me anything ,i ‘d let him hear what the gov. wants me to hear ,otherwise i know where i ‘d end up.
I wouldn’t wish to reply to nonsense comments but let the facts speak for themselves:
1. My country is a great country, but it is run by corrupt, and authoritarian slave herders. If it was perfect, why is everyone fleeing???? Is is because it is fun crossing the Sahara or getting kidnapped and sold for organ trade in the deserts of Sinai and drowning in the Mediterranean sea or languishing in refugee camps …
2. People who disagree with these facts are in one way or another benefiting from this corrupt and evil system, and I can only say that it is not long before the Slogan AWET NHAFASH is actually realized.
Mr Aman, pls do not lie. U r frankly not 1 of thousands who fled deplorable of governance as u try to pretend as a victim. Any one can tell lie. U fled for sure Mengistu regime. I’m hundred percent positive that u never proved a penny or lift a stone for mother land. If I asked u anything to do military service Sawa or any activity place in Eritrea, u wouldn’t dare give me an answer. Do not try to insult the brave Eri ppl and gov. Simply. Mind your daily business.
Ashasi girim alo zemed asha eyu kefiewo zelo.
I remember Crime minister Meles went to Tigray were answering ppls question approx 7 years ago. One of the odience asked him, why stand off? Why dont u make pease with Eritreans. Its we the ppl of Tigray sufering. C. Meles replied, shabiya have maximum 2 years to servive. Seven years letter He died of pain not to succed his wishes. And Eritrea is now One of worlds fastest growing.
Abraham lyric: lekas wehabti mber Aikonan hateti- Tetsebeity aikonan temetsewty – Tiina aytiklaani mis tedfa – Timrer imber Hiwet kesenifa mukeny amine – Zihazkuwom hize Amesgine.
Tiamno liika Dikis hider.
All losers. U will see miracle as u witnesed during strugle for independence.
Ammmmmaaaaaaannnnnnn. Ask your self why am I lying? What for? Who deeply knowlage do I’v about my home country?
You try to bring FAKTS? you lie when you fled the country?
YOU TRY TO BE SMART IN YOUR TINY SIBER WORLD.
FOR YOUR ADVICE. DID YOU KNOW ABOUT A MAN CALLED GLENCOLE? Do some researches about him related to africa and the high sharkes behind. MAYBE YOU MAY LEARN SOMETHING. As you said? Leave the Eri along and the near feuture will tell u about everything you put on your points PLUS MUCH MUCH MORE. I DONT WANT TO PREDICT OR PREACH ANY THING ABOUT THE MOTHER LAND TO YOU.
Thanks Mr Thomas, Hammond, Afshin and all others working hard to unveil the dirt work going on from super powers to harm an innocent hardworking small and new nation Eritrea. We paid so much lives and unjust being punished just we tried hard to sevive. AGAINST ALL ODDS, We had to sucrifase, hardwork24/7. Some like AMAN dirty ppl or lack of knowlage try to be smart on siber get and give missinfo about Eritrea. They try to pretend that they became a subjekt for this and that when in reality they didnt contrubut a penny. Or being away from the country for decades. They r many times selfish, and they want to be rich short cut when the real fighter swrting blood. And then they acuse the majority of the the population that we benefiting or are corrupted JUST CAUSE WE CARE AND WORK HARD FOR THE MOTHER LANDS FUTURE. What they dont know is THE STRONG PPL OF ERI WILL SHOW THEM A BRIGHT FUTURE AS MIRACULOSE AS USUAL AND GIVE THEM A PARDON FOR THEIR PERPISE OR IMPERPOSE MISTAKES. ERITREA IS NOT FOR DIRTY MONEY LIVERS OR LIERS. ERITREA IS FOR RESPECT OF ITS MARTIRES, HARDWORKING WARSAY AND YKEALO AND COMMING GENERATIONS./// WETRU AWET NI HAFASH
Eri, you are probably one of the sons of the current colonels in Eritrea who are massing millions in bribes. Do you know what Awet N’hafash means??? No you don’t, it doesn’t mean victory to the colonels, it means victory to the masses. Have you ever worked in Wefri Warsai Ykealo, I bet you haven’t. Your father is covering you isn’t he? Well I have seen it all, and I don’t see the fun in it. But may be it is fun from your side of the Sofa. I am just waiting for he moment when the clouds settle, and pay back time for people like you, I will hunt you down!
Aman
if you left Eritrea two months ago the Education must be superior you seem to write perfect English.
Thank you. Please don’t forget that there are people back home whose English is far better than mine.
I guess you rushed to writing a “smart remark” and forgot to read how old I am. That would help you guess that I didn’t start learning English the last few years. Also remember that the English language is just another language; it is not neuroscience, and doesn’t require a ground-breaking curriculum to see people speaking or writing it. You will find lots of Eritrean young girls speaking and writing Arabic now. Now is that because of the “Superior Education system”? Well you tell me, may be you are in Eritrea I assume you know better than I do.
Great minds talk about ideas. Think about the big picture, rather than uselessly and sarcastically commenting about personal details. The future of Eritrea is at stake, and that is the big picture, let’s not lose focus.
Against all odds we shall strive. That is the writing in the heavens for Eritrea.
Eri was never short of great men. She got 60,000 people to give their life for independence, most of the willfully. 30,000 more to protect her from evil-eyed neighbors, who were not ashamed to expel pregnant women and infants through land mines and battle front.
I always see it this way. “my life is not more precious than these people who gave their life to my country.”
The one powerful guy in power right now left to the give his life once upon a time. However now, I don’t know what happens to him. He is leading the country to a dangerous zone, whatever his motivation and dream is.
Of course, a lot young people are forced to leave the country. It is hard times over in Eri. But most of it, it is not self inflicted. It is thrown at as by the super powers and lame African Union. It doesn’t help that the man in power is not flexible and smart either. As a consequence, my people are suffering being hard working, religious, and peaceful.
Therefore, Whatever the Asfhin showed in his documentary, It shows the struggle of my country and my people Against all odds. An I thank him for that.
Here is the truth, Unlike some of you, he knows the reason for most of the unpleasant situation in the country. that is why the title “Isolating a nation”. and he simple chose to show the core fact about Eri.
Thank you Asfhin.
Yes, Against all odds Eri shall strive.
even against vile super powers and wicked neighbors.