Eritrea’s repressive government criticizes exiles who attack overseas festivals as ‘asylum scum’

By CARA ANNA
Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Eritrea, one of the world’s most repressive countries, is marking 30 years of independence as festivals held by its diaspora in Europe and North America have been attacked by anti-government exiles. The government dismisses the exiles as “asylum scum.” People who fled the Horn of Africa nation say the violence against festivals in Germany, Sweden and Canada are protests against a repressive government. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled Eritrea over the years. Eritrea’s government speaks harshly about those who flee and accuses the West of trying to weaken the country by depopulating it.