eritrea: concern about jailed journalists

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
_______________________________________________________________

PRESS RELEASE/UPDATE - ERITREA

2 May 2003

ARTICLE 19 reiterates concerns about jailed journalists and political dissidents

SOURCE: ARTICLE 19, Johannesburg

**Updates IFEX alerts of 1 April, 10 March and 12 February 2003, 11 December, 20
and 19 September 2002 and others**

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release, followed by a
copy of the organisation's letter to South African President Thabo Mbeki:

ARTICLE 19 reiterates concerns about jailed journalists and political dissidents
in Eritrea

In a letter sent today to President Thabo Mbeki, Chairman of the African Union,
ARTICLE 19 raises its concerns about the continued detention, incommunicado and
without trial, of at least eighteen journalists and eleven political dissidents
in Eritrea since September 2001.

The letter calls on President Mbeki, in his capacity as the Chairman of the
African Union, to intervene and urge the Eritrean government to release all the
journalists and political dissidents in detention in Eritrea, and to call on the
Government to respect the fundamental rights of its citizens.

"We are deeply concerned that the whereabouts of these detainees are unknown to
their families and lawyers," says John Barker, Director of the Africa Programme.

The letter follows:

2nd May 2003

His Excellency Thabo Mbeki
President of the Republic of South Africa
Chairman of the African Union
South African Presidency
Government Avenue
Union Building

Via Facsimile: 012 323-8246, 012 323-2573

Your Excellency,

Re: Protest against the arbitrary detention in secret of eighteen journalists
and eleven political detainees in Eritrea

ARTICLE 19 - Global Campaign for Free Expression, an independent and non
partisan NGO that works to promote and protect freedom of expression, would like
to bring to your attention its concerns about the continued detention,
incommunicado and without trial, of at least eighteen journalists and eleven
political dissidents in Eritrea since September 2001.

We are deeply concerned that the whereabouts of these detainees are unknown to
their families and lawyers.

On 18 September 2001, the Eritrean government banned the entire private press.
Subsequently many journalists were arrested and detained; the Eritrea government
as of today holds at least eighteen journalists incommunicado.

The government-owned daily newspaper, Hadas Eritrea, is now the only publication
allowed to be published in the country.

On 18 and 19 September 2001, eleven former Eritrean government officials were
also arrested in Asmara. They included former vice-president Mahmoud Sherifo and
former foreign minister Petros Solomon.

Eritrean authorities invoked many reasons for the banning of newspapers and
imprisonment of the journalists, ranging from threatening national security to
failing to observe licensing requirements. They have also accused independent
journalists of being paid by Ethiopian and other unidentified hostile forces,
but none of these accusations have been formally brought before an independent
court.

Appeals made to the government by human rights and free expression organizations
have to date remained fruitless.

We are gravely concerned that these detentions are linked to the peaceful
expression of opinion about political matters. The right to freedom of
expression and information is guaranteed and protected by the provisions of
international instruments, and treaties signed and ratified by the Government of
Eritrea, notably the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 19,
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Article 19,
and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) Article 9.

Besides, there is no official information indicating the charges laid against
the detainees and when they will be brought before a court of law. Article 6 of
the ACHPR, Article 9 of the ICCPR and Article 9 of the UDHR prohibit arbitrary
arrest.

In addition, we deplore that the detainees have been held in custody beyond a
reasonable time and without authorisation by an independent and impartial court.
It is against all principles of law, especially Article 7 of the ACHPR, Articles
10 and 11 of the UDHR, and Article 14 of the ICCPR, to detain a person beyond
reasonable period without charges being brought before an independent and
impartial tribunal.

On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, we respectfully call on Your Excellency
in your capacity as the Chairman of the African Union to intervene and urge the
Eritrean government to release all the journalists and political dissident in
detention in Eritrea and to call on the Government to respect the fundamental
rights of its citizens.

Yours faithfully,

John Barker
Director of the Africa Programme

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Similar appeals can be sent to:

His Excellency Thabo Mbeki
President of the Republic of South Africa
Chairman of the African Union
South African Presidency
Government Avenue
Union Building
Fax: +27 12 323 8246 / 323 2573

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information, contact Fatou Jagne, Africa Programme Officer, ARTICLE
19, Braamfontein Centre, 23 Jorissen Street Braamfontein 2017, Johannesburg,
South Africa, tel: +27 11 403 1488, fax. +27 11 403 1517, e-mail:
[email protected], [email protected], Internet:
http://www.article19.org

The information contained in this press release/update is the sole
responsibility of ARTICLE 19. In citing this material for broadcast or
publication, please credit ARTICLE 19.
_______________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Suite 403, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: [email protected] general e-mail: [email protected]
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_______________________________________________________________