We, Eritrean Canadians who have been victimized by the illegal activities of the Eritrean government representatives here in Canada, call upon the Canadian government to shut down the Eritrean consulate in Canada immediately. Since the consulate has already defied Canada’s repeated demands to stop soliciting Diaspora (extortion) tax, we strongly recommend that the Canadian government takes a very decisive action to end the illegal activities of a representation in Canada of a regime that has been sanctioned by the international community for supporting Islamist radicals such as the al-Shabab who vowed to attack the West including Canada. The same government terrorizes its own citizens both in Eritrea and the diaspora. Shutting down of the above stated consulate is the only solution to end the misery of Eritrean Canadians. Otherwise, the smear tactics of the consulate will continue to undermine Canadian law and exacerbate our misery inflicted by the Eritrean consulate and its satellite agencies that are distributed in most metropolitan cities of Canada.

The Eritrean consulate in Toronto has been extorting Eritrean-Canadian citizens, 10 months after Canada expelled the consul for ignoring the repetitive call to stop soliciting money in violation of the United Nation sanction against Eritrea.

 The illegal activities of the consulate have been verified by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, which reports, “Eritrean officials and party agents routinely resort to threats, intimidation and coercive measures in order to elicit payment.”  The report adds, “The most common tactic is the denial of unrelated services until taxes have been paid. Other measures include harassment, intimidation and the threat of retribution in Eritrea: individuals who refuse to make payment may have their inheritance rights voided; their family members may be penalized; and they may be subject to detention or denial of an exit visa if they return to Eritrea.”

The consulate conducts its business in collaboration with covert satellite agencies across Canada – Coalition of Eritrean Canadian Communities and Organizations (CECCO), the Eritrean Canadian Association of Ontario, Eritrean Cultural Center, The Eritrean Community of Winnipeg Inc., The Eritrean Cultural & Civic Centre of Calgary, and The Eritrean Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver to raise fund, invite inadmissible military bands, get permits to rent public parks and carry out its illegal activities. The satellite agencies, registered as non- profit organizations, also conceal their political nature in order to obtain financial assistance from the federal and provincial governments and other donor agencies.  The UN report said “A PFDJ [the People's Front for Democracy and Justice, the ruling party in Eritrea] fundraising drive in Canada in early 2012 falsely presented itself as a campaign to assist Eritrean orphans and children, in potential violation of Canadian law.” An investigation by the RCMP revealed that the money raised in the name of ‘orphans’ was handed to Eritrean government agents.

After the expulsion of the consul, we expected the illegal activities of the Eritrean consulate to stop, but it did not. The consulate has been continuing to solicit money (2% income tax and a $300 to $500 “national defence” fee) as a pre-condition of providing consular services. Moreover, the consulate’s main duties still continue to be extorting Canadian Eritreans. The consulate coerces Eritrean expatriates to provide their income tax return papers of Canada Revenue Agency, calculate the 2% tax dues and compels them to sign a recantation or confession letter for fleeing the country and instructs them where and how to pay. Every work is done by the Eritrean consulate in Toronto. Nothing changed except the venue of payment.

Eritrean Canadian Human Rights Group