Dear

The UN Security Council has passed a resolution imposing sanctions on Eritrea on the 23rd of December 2009 with full support from the British government for allegedly providing financial support to the Somali insurgents and for not complying with UN Security Council’s order to resolve its dispute with Djibouti. I feel that this measure is totally unjust and does not address the real problem in the Horn of Africa. I say this because:

• No evidence has been presented to substantiate the accusations. The British government has classified the evidence and would not disclose it to our community representatives or anyone else for that matter.

• The British government and the Security Council chose to turn a blind eye to the glaring, documented evidences and facts showing Ethiopia´s repeated violations of the arms embargo on Somalia as well as its continued violations of international law, flouting of over two dozen Security Council resolutions and decisions, and its wilful disregard for the African Union and IGAD resolutions on Somalia.

• The UN Security Council, having passed a resolution condemning the increase in the flow of weapons to Somalia in contravention of the arms embargo imposed in 1992, endorsed the US call for the embargo to be lifted so that they can supply weapons to Somali’s warring factions. The US supplied tonnes of weapons by their own admission with most of it ending up in the hands of the insurgents by way of desertions. Somalia is today awash with weapons and has more than enough to export.

• Instead of welcoming the peace, stability and security in Somalia after 15 years of anarchy and chaos, in a clear broad daylight violation of the UN arms embargo on Somalia, and in violation of the UN charter, the African Union Charter and Security Council Resolution 1724, Ethiopia invaded and occupied Somalia in December 2006.

• The invasion and occupation of Somalia was also in violation of the Intergovernmental Agency for Development's (IGAD) 2005 resolution that authorized the formation of IGAD Peace Support Mission to Somalia (IGASOM) and specifically called for non-interference by "neighbouring states".

• Ethiopia´s invasion and occupation of Somalia has resulted in the greatest humanitarian disaster in Somalia´s history. More than 20,000 Somali civilians have been killed, villages and farms have been pulverized, Somalia´s infrastructures, schools, hospitals, markets and more have been destroyed and over 2 million people have been displaced.

• In violation of international law, the UN Charter and the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission´s final and binding delimitation and demarcation decisions of 2002 and 2007 respectively, Ethiopia continues to militarily occupy sovereign Eritrean territories, including Badme. The UN Security Council was mandated to take the necessary political, diplomatic, economic and military measures against Ethiopia in line with Chapter 7 of the UN charter for violating the ruling of the independent boundary commission. No measures have been taken and the situation remains volatile.

In view of all the above, the Security Council´s sanctions against Eritrea seem to be unjust and politically motivated. The measures taken by the British government have deeply angered many in my community as the double standards are so glaringly evident. I can assure you that the British government cannot, in all honesty, refute any of the above assertions. I therefore kindly request that you do all you can to convince the British government to change course and take measures to repeal the sanctions against Eritrea. I look forward to hearing from you.