*By Kalinga Seneviratne BANGKOK. | 23 January 2026 (IDN) —With Myanmar’s three-stage elections hitting the home stretch later this week on Sunday, ending the country’s civil war may need to take center stage in the post-election period. It is fueling a global scam industry that is destabilizing not only the Southeast Asian region, but also […]
How the EU’s Initiated Crackdown on Human Smuggling Will Impact Migration Systems for the Better or the Worse.
BRUSSELS. Belgium | 21 January 2026 (IDN) — “We Europeans, decide who comes to Europe and crosses our borders, and under what circumstances, and not the smugglers and traffickers” was the message in European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen’s speech, kicking off the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling conference on 10 December in […]
20 Years Demanded in Extraordinary Trial Against Brutal Alleged Eritrean Human Smuggler ‘Walid’
ZWOLLE, The Netherlands| 10 December 2025 (IDN) — The Dutch public prosecutor has demanded the maximum sentence of 20 years of prison, and over 2 million EUR in damages in the case of alleged Eritrean smuggler Tewelde Goitom “Walid”, accused of earning large sums of money through the kidnapping, torturing, and extorting of refugees in […]
Situation Report Special: “Why am I prosecuted here?” – Walid’s final words as court prepares verdict on 27 January
The summary of the first 6 hearing days can be accessed on the EEPA website. Walid hearing: Summary of Day 7 (per 26 November 2025) Day 7 of the court hearing in the case of alleged human trafficker Tewelde Goitom “Walid” covered the reply of the injured party and the public prosecutor, the rejoinder, and […]
Situation Report Special: Defense pleads there is no Dutch jurisdiction for the charges against ‘Walid’ and disputes strength of evidence
The summary of the first 5 hearing days can be accessed on the EEPA website. Walid hearing: Summary of Day 6 (per 24 November 2025) Day 6 of the court hearing in the case of alleged human trafficker Tewelde Goitom “Walid” covered the plea by the defense. The defense pleaded for Walid’s acquittal on the […]
Situation Report Special: Survivors speak in Walid hearing: “to me he is a perpetrator”
The summary of the first 3 hearing days can be accessed on the EEPA website. Walid hearing: Summary of Day 3 (per 17 November 2025) Day 4 of the court hearing in the case of alleged human trafficker Tewelde Goitom “Walid” covered four personal statements of impact from victims, and the personal circumstances of Walid. […]
Situation Report Special: Court hears testimonies of brutal sexual abuse and punishment under Walid; “You are not the first who begged me to stop”
The summary of Day 1 & Day 2 of the hearing can be accessed on EEPA website. Walid hearing: Summary of Day 3 (per 5 November 2025) Day 3 of the court hearing in the case of alleged human trafficker Tewelde Goitom “Walid” has brought more witness testimonies read out by the presiding judge. As […]
Situation Report Special: Dutch court allows full trial of alleged Eritrean trafficker “Walid”
Announcement: This month, we will bring you special Situation Reports on the substantive hearings in the ‘Walid case’ concerning Human Trafficking for Ransom from Eritrea through Ethiopia, Sudan and Libya, held in The Netherlands Walid hearing background (per 3 November 2025) Substantive hearings have started today, 3 November 2025, in the case against the alleged […]
Trial against alleged Eritrean trafficker ‘Walid’ will start in The Netherlands on 3 November
Substantive hearings are about to begin in Zwolle, the Netherlands, in the important case against Eritrean national Tewelde Goitom (also known as “Walid” / “Welid”). The hearings are set to run across the month of November. Walid is accused of leading an international criminal network that detained, tortured, raped and extorted Eritrean refugees in Libya. […]