To: Gwen Dillard, Africa Division Director, Voice of America
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), PR
Voice of America, PR
VOA Horn of Africa

Cc: President Barak Obama, President of the United States
Madam Hon. Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State
Dr. Susan Rice. US Ambassador to the UN
Senator John McCain, United States Senator (Arizona)
John O. Brennan, Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama
Stephanie Cutter, Deputy Campaign Manager for President Obama

We, Eritrean Diaspora all over the world in general and Americans of Eritrea origin in particular, would like to draw an immediate attention and end to this appalling, one-sided and biased coverage of VOA Tigrigna Service in support of Dictator Isayas Afewerki’s regime; particularly of “Journalist” Mr. Tewelde Weldegebriel.

As you’re probably aware of the Government of Eritrea’s poor record of tolerance to political dissent, any room for free press and freedom of speech and gross abuse of human rights; VOA is one of the external supposedly “Fair and Objective” media outlets that Eritreans in Eritrea cherish and listen religiously.

As a proponents of reform, free press, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, justice, rule of law and democratic ideals; we are extremely disappointed, saddened and angered by this continuous biased, ill informed and misleading rosy coverage of Eritrea perpetrated by “Journalist” Mr. Tewelde. Guaranteed every American Tax- payer would be as livid and upset that our tax payers’ money is used to praise by encouraging and condoning the most brutal dictator alive in Africa as we speak.

This unwarranted support of VOA Tigrigna to the most notorious human right abuser, Isayas Afewerki, is against Americans’ ideal human rights, free press, freedom of speech, democratic values and regional interests. It also contradicts to the core objectives of VOA, as it’s highlighted below.

VOA produces about 1,500 hours of news and feature programming each week for an estimated global audience of 123 million people, "to promote freedom and democracy and to enhance understanding through multimedia communication of accurate, objective, and balanced news, information and other programming about America and the world to audiences overseas."

In conclusion, we are asking the Board of Directors and Management of VOA to halt these unfair and biased Eritrean current events coverage and terminate the employment of Mr. Tewelde effectively and immediately. The close and cozy friendly relationship between Isayas Afewerki and Mr. Tewelde shouldn’t be tolerated this long and go unabated! Enough is Enough! There are fundamental well documented reasons why the UN, with full support of the Obama administration, sanctioned twice (UN Resolutions 1907 and 2023) the terrorist and terror supporter Isayas Afewerki.

Respectfully, Concerned Eritreans!
(Your name)