The Eritrean People's Democratic Party (EPDP) sent a message of gratitude to Holland for its Government's action on 17 January rendering the Eritrean Charge d'Affaires in the Hague persona non grata for his continued abusive practices related to collection of the illegal 2% tax and threats to Eritreans in performing its illicit collections.

The EPDP message, addressed to Dutch Foreign Ministry in the early hours of 18 January 2018, request Foreign Minister Halbe Zijstra to kindly convey  to the people and Government of Holland the gratitude and salutations of the  EPDP  sent on behalf of its rank and file and "many suffering Eritreans who are waiting similar and, hopefully also more stern, measures against the abusive regime and its agents who continue to extort 2% taxes and other illegal collections from Eritreans around the globe". 

The EPDP message further expressed "heartfelt delight and sigh of relief" on behalf of many for this long awaited action against the Eritrean Embassy Charge d'Affaires, Mr. Tekeste Ghebre-Medhin. It terms the measure "a great step forward" and hoped that the rest of Europe and others "will emulate this appropriate example".

The message added: "As the Kingdom of the Netherlands knows it well, the regime in Asmara is lawless and constantly works to spread its lawlessness beyond its territory.  What the Dutch Parliament, your judiciary system and the Dutch Cabinet have been doing to check the abuses of the agents of the Eritrean regime were always commendable. And now, this action against the abusive Charge D'Affaires is a great step forward."