Eritrea: Letter to President Afeworki
International PEN, the world association of writers representing members in 95 countries, is deeply concerned about the continued detention of the journalists Yusuf Mohamed Ali, Mattewos Habteab, Dawit Habtemichael, Medhanie Haile, Temesken Ghebreyesus, Emanuel Asrat, Adowit Isaac, Fesshaye Yohannes, Said Abdelkader, Selayinghes Beyene, Simret Seyoum and Fitzum Wedi Ade. All the detentions took place in the aftermath of the closure of the private press on 18 September 2001. International PEN considers the prolonged detention of the journalists without trial to be thoroughly alarming, and is particularly concerned by the transfer of the nine journalists on hunger strike to undisclosed locations.
His Excellency President Isaias Afeworki
> c/o Permanent Eritrean Mission to the United Nations
>
> Fax: +1 212 963 3398
>
> 3 July 2002
>
>
> Dear President Afeworki,
>
> International PEN, the world association of writers representing members
in 95
> countries, is deeply concerned about the continued detention of the
journalists
> Yusuf Mohamed Ali, Mattewos Habteab, Dawit Habtemichael, Medhanie Haile,
> Temesken Ghebreyesus, Emanuel Asrat, Adowit Isaac, Fesshaye Yohannes, Said
> Abdelkader, Selayinghes Beyene, Simret Seyoum and Fitzum Wedi Ade. All the
> detentions took place in the aftermath of the closure of the private press
on 18
> September 2001
>
> International PEN considers the prolonged detention of the journalists
without
> trial to be thoroughly alarming, and is particularly concerned by the
transfer
> of the nine journalists on hunger strike to undisclosed locations. It
believes
> that the journalists' continued detention without access to their families
or a
> lawyer of their choosing contravenes the Eritrean Constitution, in
particular
> Article 17 concerning arrest, detention and fair trial. As you know, it is
the
> responsibility of the President to uphold the constitutional rights of
Eritrean
> citizens, and therefore we request that the journalists be granted
immediate and
> unconditional release, or be charged with a recognisable offence and are
given
> the opportunity to post a reasonable bail.
>
> International PEN regards the detention of the twelve journalists as a
blatant
> attempt to suppress freedom of expression in Eritrea, contrary to Article
19 of
> the Constitution. In the light of this fact, it calls for the release of
the
> journalists, the restoration of the 8 private newspapers closed down in
> September 2001, and a lifting of all restrictions on freedom of
expression.
>
> We would welcome your comments on this matter.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Eugene Schoulgin
> International Chair
> Writers in Prison Committee
> International PEN
>
> **The information contained in this autolist item is the sole
responsibility of
> Writers in Prison Committee, International PEN**