Evidence of meeting #68 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was nevsun.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Irwin Cotler Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Have you noticed any change, as a result of your report, with regard to the operation in the mining area and the operation of Nevsun in that regard?
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
As you mentioned, processes have been put in place since our report to try to limit the potential for the use of forced labour. Given the difficulty of accessing the site, it's very difficult to assess whether or not it's had an actual impact on the ground. We do hope that the other companies—Sunridge, South Boulder, etc.—now that this report is out there, can't say they don't know. Hopefully they can put procedures in place prior to their mine sites being developed, so they can begin to address some of these issues and some of the other human rights risks that could occur on the mine site.
Conservative
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
Sunridge is a Canadian company and South Boulder is an Australian company, involved in potash.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
Okay—this has already been mentioned but I'm forgetting—are they both bidding for the same sites to develop? Or are they developing two separate sites?
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
They've developed two separate sites. From what I understand, they're beginning production in the next one or two years, I can't recall, but they're on the verge of developing their mine sites. From what we understand, there are also numerous other mineral development opportunities that different firms in Canada and elsewhere are exploring.
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
Within the boundaries of Eritrea, yes; Eritrea is very rich in gold, copper, zinc, potash, etc.
Conservative
Gary Schellenberger Perth—Wellington, CPC
Thank you.
And thank you very much for your insight here today.
How would you characterize Eritrea's form of government? Power within the Eritrean government is reported to be highly concentrated around the president. Do you believe these reports are accurate?
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
We base our conclusions on very little information, like everyone else. But from what we understand, yes, the power is very highly concentrated in the president.
Perth—Wellington, CPC
To what extent does the Government of Eritrea allow for free speech, particularly political dissent? And how are journalists treated?
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
There's no opportunity for free speech, no opportunity for dissent, absolutely nothing. Journalists are imprisoned, unlike anywhere else in Africa. There are many journalists imprisoned. There have been no formal charges, no trials, no one knows where they are, no one knows if they're alive or dead. The situation in Eritrea in terms of free speech is just terrible.
Perth—Wellington, CPC
You mentioned the judiciary. To what extent is Eritrea's judiciary able to operate independently from the country's executive powers?
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
From what we understand, it has no ability to do that.
February 14th, 2013 / 1:45 p.m.
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
A lot of the mechanisms that you would see in other countries, in democracies, for dealing with some of these issues, just don't exist in Eritrea. They may exist on paper but in practice they don't exist.
Perth—Wellington, CPC
When we hear of all the human rights violations, it's hard to imagine slavery and all that goes along with that practice at this time in the 21st century.
As you have said, there are five religions in Eritrea. Is there a dominant religion?
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
It depends on who you ask, but generally speaking the country is half Muslim, half Christian.
Researcher, Horn of Africa, Human Rights Watch
Not that we know of in Eritrea, but according to the UN monitoring group, Eritrea does support al-Shabaab in Somalia.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Scott Reid
All right, Mr. Schellenberger, thank you.
We go then to monsieur Jacob, s'il vous plaît.
Mr. Jacob, you have six minutes.