Alenalki: Eritrean News Services - A Report on the 'State of Human Rights in Eritrea 2006

A Report on the 'State of Human Rights in Eritrea 2006

Written by Suwera Centre for Human Rights

Sunday, 27 May 2007

Suwera Center for Human Rights (SCHR) released its second annual report 'The State of Human Rights in Eritrea, 2006'. In addition to the introduction and recommendations, the report consists of six chapters as detailed below.

Chapter 1: deals with the situation of public and civil freedoms. It examines five sub-themes including the freedom of political and trade union activism, religious freedoms, freedom of expression, right to fair and just trial and rights to privacy and freedom of movement.

Chapter 2: highlights cases of arbitrary detention and situation of prisons in Eritrea. It includes three lists of political prisoners in addition to describing the types of torture that prisoners are subjected to.

Chapter 3: exposes the increased violence against women and their decreased share in education and employment opportunities and deterioration of reproductive health.

Chapter 4: traces the violations committed by authorities in the context of the implementation of the national (military) service act.

Chapter 5: reports on the situation of the Eritrean refugees in both Sudan and Ethiopia.

Chapter 6: assesses the relationships of Eritrea government with the international community during 2006 and the responses of the international community to the human rights violations in the country. It also exposes the role played by international human rights organizations in revealing violations committed by Eritrean authorities.

The report concludes with recommendations on how concerned parties can contribute to the improvement of human rights situation in Eritrea including a recommendation to the UN Human Rights Council to appoint a special rapporteur to report on the human rights situation in Eritrea.

Issuing this report, SCHR is calling upon all human rights defenders to express their solidarity with the victims of violations in Eritrea through condemning these violations and appealing to the authorities to release all detainees or bringing them to open, just and fair trials.

Full report bellow

The State of Human Rights in Eritrea
2006

List of Abbreviations

SCHR       Suwera Center for Human Rights
GER         General Enrollment Rate
PFDJ        The Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice
COR         Sudan Commission of Refugees
UNHCR     United Nations High Commission for Refugees
IMC          International Medical Corps
AI             Amnesty International
HRW        Human Rights Watch
UNMEE    United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
SC           Security Council
RSF         Reporters Sans Frontières
CEDAW   Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women
FGM        Female Genital Mutilation
HIV/AIDS

Introduction

Thirteen years after independence, 80% of Eritrea citizens who fled the country because of the liberation war did not return back. In 2000 new waves of refuge took place due to the impact of the Tow-Year war against Ethiopia (1998-2000) particularly, the extension of the national (military) service from 18 months as stipulated in the law to an undefined period as well as the limitations on public freedoms imposed after that war.

The implementation of the national service program has been accompanied with a series of gross human rights violations that affected almost all sectors of the society. Indeed, conscripts have been forced to serve for undefined period, fire was opened on evaders from service and those who have been caught were put in prison. Moreover, conscripts have been deprived of their civil rights, exploited in unpaid jobs and thousands of their parents were imprisoned. Women were affected to a great extent of the implementation of this program. General Enrollment Rates (GER) of girls in secondary schools have declined from 48.3% in 1991/1992 to 36.8 in 2000/2001. This was simply because families feared that continuation of going to schools might lead their daughters to training camps in Sawa with all physical and psychological harassment they might face.

In 2006 the government closed Asmara University for good after they have had ordered in 2003 its administration not to enroll new students.

The arbitrary implementation of the national service program had also stroke Eritrean families at the foundation. The percentage of spouses living under one ceil during the period 1995 and 2002 declined from 60.4% to 30.5% for the age group between 15-19 year, from 78.1% to 32% for the age group between 20-24 year and from 92.1% to 48.9 for the group between 25-29 year. Furthermore, children between 10 and 15 started to seek refuge outside the country. Accommodating such children in refugee camps created problems of different types as they need special social and health care in the absence of their parents.

The People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) is governing the country since independence (1993) as they did not allow the establishment of political parties nor run public elections in the country. To guarantee monopoly over state power, the government restricted the movement of the society and oppressed its initiative and blocked linkages between the different components of the Eritrean society on one hand and between it and the rest of the world on the other. In fact, there is no independent press; the governmental media is the only source of information. Also, there are no trade unions or independent associations that protect the interests or advance the professions of its affiliates. Furthermore, the government does not respect religious freedoms as it interferes in spiritual, financial and administrative affairs of different religious sects and institutions.

The government used intimidation to perpetuate its power. Indeed, arbitrary detention is the most used tool in this regard as authorities have arrested thousands of people without trials or opportunity to communicate with the world outside prison including their families. In fact, authorities do not declare the places where they detain prisoners ignoring reports that suggest the death of some of its prisoners as well as the appeals of several human rights organizations and activists to disclose the fates of those prisoners and bring them to just trials or release them.

The ruling group does not only monopolize political decision, it also totally controls state financial resources, which they administer without any type of accountability. The Eritrean people were never allowed since independence to know the range of state resources or its expenditures. Figures released by international organizations such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and UNDP suggest that development as well as health and educational services were not among the prioritized expenditures in the state budget. According to a 2005 report issued by the UNDP, Eritrea is number one in the world in terms of military expenditure as compared to GDP. In 2003 Eritrea spent 19.4% of its GDP on military purposes, while it spent only 4.1% on education and 3.2% on health. In 2004 budget, the percentage of expenditure on health decreased to only 2% and education to 3.8 according to UNDP 2006 report.

Despite the deterioration of the economic situation of citizens who need international assistance, the Eritrean government drove out more than ten international organizations providing services in the fields of humanitarian aid, health, environment and so forth. The pretext was the non-compliance of those organizations with the conditions imposed by the government including depositing two million US dollars in a local account.

Eritrea’s international relations deteriorated due to the border conflict with Ethiopia, the restrictions imposed by the government on flights of peace keeping forces, expel of peace keepers who hold western nationalities and selling aid goods provided by the international community.
Although Eritrea is a state party to a number of international human rights treaties, it observed none of them. The government remained committing gross human rights violations since independence. As detailed in this report, these violations were escalated in 2006.

This report covers the period between November 2005 and December 2006 as our first report covered the period between 1993 (year of independence from Ethiopia) and November 2005. Although this report doesn’t cover all human rights aspects as it has been drafted from outside the country, it generally reflects the state of human rights in Eritrea in 2006 through reporting on the major policies and practices that relate to human rights applications.

The report consists of six chapters. The first deals with the situation of public freedoms and civil rights and covers issues such as political freedoms, trade union freedoms, religious freedoms, freedom of expression, right to fair and just trial and right to privacy. The second chapter addresses arbitrary detention, state of prisons and torture. This section includes three lists of conscience prisoners. The first list includes those who have been listed in SCHR 2005 report and have not been released yet. The second list covers those who have arrested during our first reporting period, i.e., 1993- 2005 but have not been included in our first report, while the third includes those who have been arrested during 2006. SCHR does not claim that these lists include all conscience prisoners in Eritrea, they only include those names whose detention has been verified through direct or indirect contacts with their relatives and friends, those who have reported by international human rights organizations or those who have been involuntarily disappeared while the government did not deny their detention. This section also deals with the prisons' situation and patterns of torture. The third section addresses violence and discrimination against women. It addresses violence against women whether committed by the government or the society. It also highlights how recent policies affected their development opportunities and led to increase the gender gap in education and employment. It is the first time that SCHR reports on women’s situation.

Section four reports on the violations that took place in the framework of the national service program during 2006. For the first time, authorities executed a number of people in open areas after accusing them of helping evading conscripts to cross the border to Sudan. They also opened fire on evaders who attempted to flee through the borders. The government continued in 2006 in detaining parents and guardians of conscripts evaded military service program. Only those whose sons joined the program or paid fines were released. Section five is devoted to the situation of Eritrean refugees in Sudan and Ethiopia and the problems they face. Section six focuses on the response of the international community to the violations committed by the Eritrean government. It addresses Eritrea’s international relations in 2006 and how different international parties dealt with human rights violations in Eritrea. The report concludes with recommendations on how different concerned parties should deal with human rights violations. The recommendations are directed to human rights organizations, Eritrean activists and international NGOs.

Suwera Center for Human Rights looks forward to the help of Eritrean activists in distributing the report to the widest possible audiences in order to disclose the gross human rights violations in the country and to awaken good-will forces to address them.

SCHR would like to thank friends who provided financial and moral support, without which this report would not come to realization. We also thank our friends Sawsan Khalid who helped with the proof-reading of the Arabic version of the report and Magdi El Naím who translated it into English and all friends who reviewed the draft and provided valuable advice. Thanks to all of them, indeed, their creative and sincere work helped us to avoid several mistakes and shortcomings.

Yaseen Mohamd Abdellah
President of SCHR

April 2007

Pubic Freedoms and Civil Rights

1. Political and trade union freedoms
The state of public freedoms remained poor in 2006 as it has ever been since independence. The general elections, which should have been run five years ago, were never conducted. The government remained abandoning political parties as they froze the work of the committee they formed in 2001 to formulate a political party act. Actually, the committee had drafted the act and announced a press conference to publicize their proposal. The constitution also remained frozen. Moreover, the ruling party continued in 2006 its hegemony on the deteriorated economy of the country through the monopoly of commercial, economic as well as import and export institutions.

The Parliament, which was formed in 1994 in the aftermath of the Third Congress of the ruling party, did never convene in 2006. In reality, this appointed parliament had not convened since February 2002.

With the expansion of the base of the political opposition, authorities remained blocking all opposition activism using intimidation, arbitrary detention and killing in some cases. Because of this blocking, opposition is currently active from neighboring countries such as Sudan and Ethiopia where hundreds of thousands of Eritreans are based. Also, Eritrean communities in Western countries organized in cooperation with opposition political organizations and civil society groups abroad rallies and sit-ins in national events and at visits of Eritrean officials. They protested absence of public freedoms and violations of human rights in their country of origin.

During 2006 no independent trade unions or civil society organizations have been established. Also, trade union prisoners who have been detained because of their trade union activism have not been released.

2. Religious freedoms
The government of Eritrea continued restricting religious freedoms. Restrictions affected all religions and denominations, although to different degrees. A decree issued by the Ministry of Information that requires all small religious sects to register with the Religious Affairs Department at the Ministry of Local Government remained effective until the date of drafting this report. The decree requires all sects to include in their applications of registration the history of the sect in the country, the names and bio information of their leaders, .lists of their followers, detailed information regarding the sect's properties, their bank accounts as well as their sources of external funding. Although major religions such as Islam, Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestants are not required to register, their bank accounts are under governmental monitoring. Indeed, authorities interfered in their administrative affairs, confiscated some of their properties, harassed them in ways included prohibiting them from practicing rituals in certain places and arrested some of their members on the background of their beliefs.

Muslims, who represent more than half of the country's population, were subjected to massive campaigns of detention in the framework of the government campaign against Jihad Movement. Islamic educational and charity institutions were closed down. Furthermore, authorities considered all manifestations of religion as espousing of Jihad ideology. This indeed intimidated Muslim communities. During that campaign against Jihad, Islamic educational institutes were closed down, charity organizations were banned and their employees were detained. Muslim affairs are currently run by an appointed Mufti (Grand Sheikh)who is known of his submission to the government. Still in 2006 the authorities did not disclose the fate of prisoners who were arrested at the background of being affiliated to the Jihad Movement. Also, all worshippers who were arrested in one of Ansar El Sunna mosques in Asmara in 2004 at the background of a dispute with the Mufti on the educational program at the mosque have been never released.

The Eritrean authorities imposed a house arrest on the Orthodox Patriarch after receiving a message from the Holy Synod dated 13th January 2006 that fired him. This was a clear violation of the Church constitution, which states that Patriarchy is a life-long position. According to the Church constitution, this position is considered vacant in one of three cases, i.e., a) death of the Patriarch; b) excommunication; or c) committing adultery. Immediately after informing the Patriarch with this decision, his car was confiscated and his driver was fired. On his turn, the Patriarch issued a decision stating that his dismissal is illegal and the individuals involved are excommunicated.

The government had already prohibited the Patriarch from practicing his administrative tasks within the church and limited his duties only to religious affairs because he refused their interference in the church affairs. Another factor was the Patriarch's demand to release priests arrested some years ago by the authorities on the grounds of their reformist religious opinions.

The case of Fr. Gerberhan Feseha who was in charge of the Orthodox Church in Khartoum is evidence of the open governmental interference in church affairs and the intimidating methods they use against those who oppose such acts.

Fr. Gerberhan, who has been interviewed by Suwera Center for Human Rights, was sent to Sudan more than five years ago by the Patriarch to administer the church affairs in Khartoum. Embassy in Khartoum interfered in a number of occasions in his work. Indeed, they requested him not to issue marriage and baptizing documents for Eritreans coming from exiles in order to enforce them to return to Eritrea or to go to the Embassy. They also asked him to stop providing services to those who flee the country to Sudan, to prohibit certain persons from entering and worshiping in his church, to appoint certain priests, to submit a financial account for the period before his term and so on and so forth. Because of his reluctance to submit to the embassy instructions, Fr. Gerberhan was harassed by persons known of their close relationships with the Embassy. Embassy officials called him several times asking him to comply with their directives. They threatened him that the Embassy will not acknowledge his legitimacy or that of his church unless he submits to their instructions. On 21st February 2006, Fr. Gerberhan was attacked by an unidentified person while he was on his way from the church to his residence in company of one of the priests. He called the embassy to help taking him to the hospital, but they refused under the pretext that working hours are over. Medical examination disclosed that the tool of attack was poisoned. Therefore, his medication extended to two months. Because of fears on his life, Fr. Gerberhan left his official residence and sought the protection of the UNHCR. The Embassy broke in the house and put hand on his personal belongings. He has been defamed through casting doubts on his financial integrity. The church administration in Asmara issued a circulation asking all churches in Khartoum including the Egyptian church, to which Fr. Gerberhan started going frequently for prayers, to prevent him from entering their premises.

Catholic and Protestant communities experienced similar interventions as those faced by Muslims and Orthodox. The government confiscated some of their properties in addition to items prepared for humanitarian aid.

Small churches such as the Full Gospel Church and Kale Hiwot, which are required, according to the afore-mentioned decree to register with the Department of Religious Affairs subjected to various types of harrssment. Althoug some of those groups had applied for registration and fufiled conditions set down by authorities, they all received no registation until the time of drafting this report.

Authories arrested in 2006 members of small churches becuase of organizing collective paryers, cermoninies or celebaring marriages of their followers. While some detainees were released, others remained in prison without being charged or taken to a court of law. Additionally, authorities have confiscated some of the properties of these churches in addition to items they brought from abroad for humanitarian aid purposes.

The Jehovah Witnesses sect faced the in 2006 the same type of harassment they face since independence in 1993. At that time members of Jehovah Witnesses refused to participate in the referendum as well as in the military service program. Three members of this church remained in prison for twelve years because they were reluctant to join military service program, although law penalizes such act with only three years of imprisonment. This sect also suffers systematic discrimination as they are not allowed to benefit from public services, obtaining official IDs or commercial licenses. Authorities arrested tens of the followers of this group including those over seventy such as Tekhle Tesfai (73 year old) who holds dual nationality, Eritrean and Dutch. He is in prison since 27th May 2005 at Sembel prison. Ironically, the director of the prison informed him, without being taken to a court, that he had been sentenced to five years of imprisonment.

3. Freedom of expression
Although effective law guarantees journalistic freedoms, these freedoms remained restricted in 2006 as they ever were in previous years. Authorities banned independent journalism and arrested in September 2001 most of the journalists working in independent newspapers. Since then those newspapers remained closed and no independent newspapers were established in 2006. Journalists are still in prison in unknown detention place after they were moved from a police detention in central Asmara upon their hunger strike in late March 2002 protesting their illegal detention. This closure is in direct violation of the decree no. 90 of 1997 concerning press and publications, which has been published in the official Eritrean Gazette. Article 1 of this decree states under the title 'freedom of press' that:
"(a) Freedom of expression is guaranteed pursuant to this Proclamation. (b) The censorship, suspension or banning of newspapers and other press products administratively, except under the provision of this Proclamation or with the approval of the competent court shall be prohibited"

Not only did authorities violate this decree in 2006, but also they arrested and interrogated ten of journalists working in them. Their e-mail accounts were inspected to make sure that they did not send or receive information from outside the country. Journalists arrested are:

Mr. Ahmed Muhammed Idris Bahja, a journalist working for Eritrea TV when arrested in November 2006.
Mr. Paulos Kidani, a journalist worked in the Amharic Department in Eritrea TV, arrested in November 2006.
Mr. Danial Musa, a journalist worked in the Oromo Department in Sout El Jamaheer Radio, arrested in November 2006.
Mr. Temesgen Abbai, a journalist worked in the Tigringa Department in Sout El Jamaheer Radio, arrested in November 2006.
Mr. Yamane Haile, a journalist worked for the governmental Press Agency, arrested in November 2006.
Ms. Fathiyya Khalid Shagarai, a journalist worked in the Arabic Department in Eritrea TV, arrested in November 2006
Ms. Sennayet Tesfai, an anchor worked in the Tigrigna Department of Eritrea TV, arrested in November 2006.
Mr. Simon Zewdi, an anchor worked in the Tigringa Department of Eritrea TV, arrested in November 2006.
Mr. Ahmed Omer Shaikh, a novelist and poet worked for the Arabic Department in Eritrea TV, arrested on 4th December 2006.
Mr. Getachew Asfaha, an anchor worked in the Amharic Department in Eritrea TV.
Mr. Asmerom Berhe, an anchor worked in the Amharic Department in Eritrea TV.

Authorities released seven of those journalists, while Getachew Asfaha, and Asmerom Berhe remained in prison until the end of 2006.

In November 2005 it is said that the journalist Dawit Isaak, who holds Eritrean and Swedish nationalities was released however, authorities affirmed that they did not release him but referred him to hospital for medication. Mr. Isaak was arrested in September 2001 among a group of journalists who were arrested upon the closure of independent newspapers. Akhlilu Solomon, correspondent of the Voice of America who was under strict observation by authorities and experienced detention in 2003 was successful in escaping the country to Ethiopia in late 2006. The reason behind his detention was simply because he sent a report to his radio on how Eritrean families received the announcement of the names of the soldiers killed in the last war against Ethiopia.

4. The right to fair and just trial
The Eritrea judiciary remained subordinate to the executive power in financial and administrative aspects as well as in performing its judicial tasks. This in fact applies on both regular and special courts. Therefore, both types of courts don't guarantee just trial for those referred. Military officers operate as judges in the special courts that founded in 1996 although they are not qualified for such a role. Moreover, special courts do not convene publicly; they are secret courts that do not guarantee defendants the access to lawyers or appeal against decisions taken with regard to their cases. Judges in theses courts work only according to their own conscience as there are no written legal provisions to found their decisions on.

Although special courts were established originally to promptly examine the accumulated cases of corruption, they considered cases of all types. In 2006 as in previous years, special courts penalized defendants who have never appeared before them or been heard. It is not known whether they were dully prosecuted. In an extreme disdain of law and international standards of fair and just trial, these courts assigned the directors of prisons where those adjudicated are detained the task of informing them of decisions taken. For example, Mr. Tekhle Tesfai, a member of the Jehovah Witnesses who was arrested on 27th May 2005 informed in 2006 by the director of Wenjel Mermera prison (allocated for defendants who are still under trial or interrogation) that he is sentenced to five year imprisonment and he had to be transferred to Sembel prison in Asmara. Also, some members of Ansar El Sunna such as Taha Abdelgadir and Abdelrahman Muhammed Nour who were arrested in 2004 were informed by the same prison director about the sentence they received without being brought to a court or even knowing the authority that tried them. In 2006 a number of persons were executed without trial alleging that they had assisted other persons to escape to Sudan; some of them were executed in public spaces. Among the victims of such executions are:

Mr. Dabsai Hebte Solomon, executed in Tesnei on 2nd April 2004 with the accusation of assisting others to escape to Sudan.
Mr. Abdalla Ahmed, executed in Tesnei on 2nd April 2004 with the accusation of assisting others to escape to Sudan.
Mr. Salih Mahmoud Haj Salih (who is also known with the name Abdelsalam), executed in Tesnei on 2nd April 2004 with the accusation of assisting others to escape to Sudan.
Mr. Sago Weddi Korori, executed in Tesnei in October 2006 with the accusation of assisting others to escape to Sudan.
Mr. Aman Idriss, at his twenties, executed on 2nd December 2006 with the accusation of assisting others to escape to Sudan.

5. Right to privacy and freedom of movement
Authorities continued in 2006 their surveillance of mail, electronic mail and phone lines. Security forces remained breaking into private houses without having legal permission in search of evaders from military service. Barricades are everywhere looking for those evaders or for suspects of other allegations. It is normal that security forces stop pedestrians on the streets to check whether they performed military service or they are requested to report to conscripting stations. Moreover, authorities became more restrictive in issuing visas that allow citizens to leave the country even for those seeking medication or elders. Indeed, complicated procedures required for travelers led in several cases to the delay of patients seeking treatment abroad. In 2006, authorities imposed new conditions for such visas for some sectors such as government employees and children above five as they are required to have a sponsor (or bailer). As for persons between 18 and 50 years old, they are never allowed to leave the country. The only exception was sportspeople participating in external competitions, but they are required to deposit a high financial guarantee to have the necessary visas.

Gebermariam Woldemicael ,Evidence of recent fertility decline in Eritrea: an analysis of trends and determinants , Max Plank Institute for Demographic, http://www.demogr.mpg.de

Arbitrary Arrests

Arbitrary detention
The government of Eritrea continued in 2006 practicing arbitrary detaining of its citizens to intimidate them and to keep its strong grip on power. The list of prisoners includes wide sectors of society, i.e., politicians, religion men, journalists, businessmen and others. As usual, security forces carried arrests in times and places where there were no body to witness.
The fate of those who have been abducted during the last years remained unknown including Tekleberhan Ghebresadk (Wedi Bashai) and Waldemariam Bahlbi (both kidnapped on 26th April 1992 from Kasala, a Sudanese town adjacent to Eritrea border) in addition to Gheberhan Zere who was kidnapped on 5th February 1992 from Al Humara, an Ethiopian town close to Eritrea border too.
Until the time of editing of this report, the Government did not declare the places of detention where it keeps thousands of political prisoners since 1992. Furthermore, families of prisoners were not allowed to visit them. Moreover, no charges were filed against prisoners neither they were taken to court. The government of Eritrea did not deny the information reported few years ago that they secretly executed a considerable number of prisoners of 1990s. They also did not deny the information released by the Ethiopian website Aigafourm.co in 2006 that included information about the whereabouts of the so-called reformers group as well as the conditions of their detention. This website reported that nine of those detainees were died in prison either because of torture, illness or lack of health care.
The following persons who were listed in the 2005 report issued by SCHR, remained in prison until the end of 2006. They are

General Bitwoded Abraha: was senior military officer and former member of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) who was arrested in 1992 but released for a while in 1998 during the Eritrean-Ethiopian war. He is imprisoned in Wenjel Marmara prison in Asmara. No charges have been filed against General Abraha nor has he taken to court.
Mr. Paolous Eyaso: a member of Jehovah Witnesses. He was arrested on 24th September 1994 because of refusal to participate in the military service program on religious grounds. He is detained in Sawa Military Camp. His family is not allowed to visit him not he has been brought to court.
Mr. Nagdi Takhlimariam: a member of Jehovah Witnesses. He was arrested on 24th September 1994 because of refusal to participate in the military service program on religious grounds. He is detained in Sawa Military Camp. His family is not allowed to visit him not he has been brought to court.
Mr. Issak Mogos: is also a member of Jehovah Witnesses. He has been arrested on 24th September 1994 because of refusal to participate in the military service program on religious grounds. He is detained in Sawa Military Camp. His family is not allowed to visit him not he has been brought to court.
Mr. Mohammed Osman Dayr: one of the early freedom fighters who joined Eritrea Liberation Front in 1964. He returned to the country after independence. Mr. Dayer was arrested on 25th May 1995 when he left his hotel at night to buy some personal needs. He never returned to this hotel. He is diabetic and he was in his fifties when he was arrested. His family was not allowed to visit him moreover, his whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against Mr. Dayer nor taken to court.
Mr. Mogos Tesfamariam: was kidnapped from Ethiopia in 1995 because of allegations of embezzling public funds. Since then he is imprisoned in Wenjel Marmara prison. When investigators did find evident against him, they asked him to bring a bailer which he rejected since no charge has been proved against him.
Mr. Salih Osman Arey: was a former leader of the National Council, an ELF faction who returned to the country after liberation. Mr. Ari was arrested on 3rd October 1995 at Keren, he was at his forties. His family was not allowed to visit him. His wife who is based in Sudan tarvelled to Eritrea three times and met several officials but she has never been allowed to meet him or informed about his whereabouts. No charges were filed against him or brought to a court.
Mr. Mahmoud Dinai: one of the early freedom fighters who joined the ELF in early 1960s and was appointed as a Commander of the 1st Military Region in 1965. Mr. Danay was arrested on 10th October 1995 when he was presiding over the regional Parliament of El Gash – Barka region. He was at his sixties. His family was not allowed to visit him, moreover his whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against Mr. Dinia nor has he taken to a court.
Mr. Sulaiman Zkaria: was a former fighter in the 1st Military Region. He was arrested on 16th October 1995. He was at his sixties at that time. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him. His whereabouts is unknown moreover, no charges were filed against him.
Mr. Mohammed Khair Musa: was a former leader in the National Council, a faction of the ELF who returned to the country after independence. When he was arrested on 10th October 1995 at Keren where he was in charge of Labor Office in Anbasa region, he was at his late fifties. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court .
Mr. Ibrahim M. Ibrahim: was a former leader in the ELF - the Unified Organization. Mr. Ibrahim was arrested on 10th October 1995 in Agrdat where he was a judge in the Regional Court of Baraka-Gash Region. He was at his early fifties. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court.
Mr. Mohammed Salih Mahmoud: was a former leader in the ELF – the National Council who joined the movement for independence in early 1950s. Mr. Mahmoud was arrested on 10th October 1995 in Agordat where he was a judge in the Regional Court of Braka-Gash Region. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, filed charges against him nor took him to a court.
Mr. Mohamoud Khalid: was a former leader in the ELF who returned to the country after independence. Mr. Khalid was arrested on 10th October 1995 in Agordat where he was an officer in the Municipality of the town.

Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, filed charges against him nor took him to a court.

Mr. El Amin Hamid Karrar: he was in charge of co-operative associations in Baraka-El Gash Region arrested on 10th October 1995 in Agordat. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court.
Mr. Mohammed Idris Abu Ajaj: is one of the first generation of fighters in the Eritrean revolution which he joined in early 1960s. Mr. Abu Ajaj was arrested on 10th October in Agordat, he was at his early sixties at that time. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court.
Mr. Muhammed Ali Ibrahim: is one of the first generation of fighters in the Eritrean revolution which he joined in early 1960s. Mr. Ibrahim was arrested on 10th October 1995. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court of law.
Mr. Ismail Idriss Karkas: was a former fighter within the ELF, the National Council. He returned to the country in the aftermath of independence. He was arrested in late Novemer 1995. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court of law.
Mr. Idriss Dinai: was a former fighter with the ELF which he joined in 1980s. He returned to the country after independence and arrested in late November 1995. He was at his thirties at the time of arrest. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court .
Mr. Muhammed Banni: was a former fighter with the ELF. He was arrested in 1996 at Senafe. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court .
Mr. Gshi Mahari Tsfamariam: was arrested in 1997 under allegations of receiving interest on money he lendsto others (riba) but he has not been brought to an open court.
Mr. Mansour Walday: was arrested in 1998 under allegations of illegal money lending (riba) but he has not been brought to an open court.
Mr. Adam Burhan Bayan: was arrested in 1998 under allegations of illegal money lending (riba) but he has not been brought to an open court.

Mr. Ghebrehiwet Geleta: is a journalist who was kidnapped earlier in 1988

from Kasala in Sudan during struggle for independence. He has been arrested again in 2002 when he was working for an independent newspaper. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Petros Solomon: is one of the earliest members of the Eritrean People's liberation Front. He was in charge of the security service attached to the Front for several years. After independence he has been assigned a number of senior positions including minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense. Before is dispute with President Aforge he was the minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources and an MP. He is married to Esteir Yohannes who is also in detention since 11th December 1003. They have four children. Solomon was arrested 0n 18/9/2001. Authorities did not allow his family to visit him, disclosed his whereabouts, filed charges against him nor took him to a court.
Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo: is one of the earliest fighters who joined revolution in mid 1960s and one of the founders of the EPLF. He assumed a number of senior positions within the Front during struggle for independence. After independence he assumed a number of ministerial portfolios, most recent of them was the Ministry of Local Governance, which put him in terms of protocol as the second man in the state. Mr. Sharifo was also an MP. He is married and has children. Mr. Sharifo was arrested on 18th September 2001. His family is not allowed to visit him, his whereabouts is not known, no charges were files against him and he has not been brought to a court .
Mr. Haile Woldtenesae: is one of the earliest members of the Eritrean People's liberation Front. He was a Minister of Economics and then Foreign Affairs and member of the current Parliament. He was the official who signed in December 2000 Alger Agreement on behalf of the Government of Eritrean. Mr. Tenesae was arrested on 18th September 2001. He is married and a father. He is diabetic. His whereabouts is not known, his family is not allowed to visit him, no charges were filed against him and he has not been brought to a court.
General Uqbe Abrha: is a former Chief of Command and former minister. He was arrested in September 2001. His family is not allowed to visit him, his whereabouts is not known, no charges were files against him and he has not been brought to a court of law. General Abrha is suffers from asthma According testimonies gathered by Suwera Center for Human Rights from conscripts who escaped the country, General Abrha died last year because of lack of basic health care and buried in Martyrs Cemetery at Ginda 45 km from Asmara.
General Berhane Gerezgrzghihier: was a retired General former commander of the Military Reserve Forces. He was also a member in the leadership of the Eritrean People's liberation Front since 1977. His whereabouts is not known, his family is not allowed to visit him, no charges were filed against him and he has not been brought to a court .
Ms. Astier Fessehatsion: was the director at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Ms. Fsahsion was arrested on 18th September 2001. She suffers from ulcer. Her whereabouts is not known, her family is not allowed to visit her. No charges were filed against her and she has not been brought to a court.
Mr. Salih Kikia: was a former manager of the Office of the President, a former Minister of Communication and Transportation and member of both leadership of the ruling party and the Parliament. He is married and a father. Mr. Kikia was arrested on 18t September 2001. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Hamid Himed : was a former Ambassador to Suadi Arabia and Sudan, head of the Middle East Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, member of the leadership of the ruling and an MP. Mr. Hamad is married and a father. He was arrested on 18th September 2001. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
General Estifanos Seyoum : a retired army officer, in charge of income taxes, member of the leadership of the ruling party and an MP. He was arrested on 18th September 2001. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Germano Natti: was a former regional governor and MP. He was arrested on 18th September 2001. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Ambassador Beraki Ghebreselassie: a former Ambassador to Germany, a former minister of Information and Culture and MP. Mr. Silasi was arrested on 18th September 2001. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Ms. Mariam Hagous: was in charge of cinema sector has been arrested on 6th October 2001. The whereabouts of Ms. Hagous is unknown and her family is not allowed to visit her. No charges were filed against Ms. Hagous nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Yousif Mohammed Ali: Editor-in-Chief of Sganai newspaper. He was arrested in September 2001. Upon participating in a hunger strike in early April 2003, he has been moved from a police detention center in Asmara to an unknown place. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Matiwos Hebteab: a journalist, was editor-in-Chief of Magalih newspaper. Was arrested in September 2001. In early April 2003 he was moved from police custody in Asmara to unknown place upon participation in hunger strike. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Dawit Habtemichael: was an assistant to the editor-in-chief of Maglih He was arrested in September 2001. In early April 2003 he was moved from police custody in Asmara to unknown place upon participation in hunger strike. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Medhanie Haille: is a journalist, was an assistant editor-in-chief and borad member in Kesti Debana newspaper. He was arrested in September 2001. In early April 2003 he was moved from police custody in Asmara to unknown place upon participation in hunger strike. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Temsghen Ghebresus: is a journalist, an assistant editor-in-chief and board member in Kesti Debana newspaper. He was arrested in September 2001. In early April 2003 he was moved from police custody in Asmara to unknown place upon participation in hunger strike. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Emanuel Asrat: is a journalist,was an editor-in-chief of Zaman newspaper. He was arrested in September 2001. In early April 2003 he was moved from police custody in Asmara to unknown place upon participation in hunger strike. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Fessaye Yohannes: was a journalist with Steit newspaper. He was arrested in September 2001. In early April 2003 he was moved from police custody in Asmara to unknown place upon participation in hunger strike. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Sa'id Abelgadir: is a journalist, was an editor-in-chief of Admas newspaper. He was arrested in September 2001. In early April 2003 was moved from police custody in Asmara to unknown place upon participation in hunger strike. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Seyoum Tsehye: was a freelance photographer. He was arrested in September 2001. In early April 2003 he was moved from police custody in Asmara to unknown place upon participation in hunger strike. No charges have been filed against Mr. Ali nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Dawit Issak: was a journalist with Steit newspaper. He holds both Eritrean an Sweden nationalities. It is believed that authorities have released him in November 2005 and re-arrested him tow days later apparently in a reaction to the welcoming of his sympathizers. He is detained at Wenjel prison in Asmara. No charges have been filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Ali El Amin: was an employee of the Embassy of the USA who was arrested in October 2001 allegedly for spying for the Embassy. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Kflom Ghebremichael: was also an employee of the Embassy of the USA who was arrested in October 2001 allegedly for spying for the Embassy. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Idriss Ab'aari is a writer and a former director at the Ministry of Labor. Mr. Ab'aari is adisable due to his participation in liberation war. Mr. Ab'aari has been arrested towards the end of 2001. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Kidane Kebreab: was a member of the ruling party who was arrested in early 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Tesfai Gherma : was a member of the ruling party who was arrested in early 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Alazar Mesfun: was a member of the ruling party and former Governor of Keren. He was arrested in early 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Kiros Tesfamichael (Awer): was a member of the ruling party and former Director of the Tourism Department. He was arrested in early 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor he been taken to a court.
Mr. Beesrat Yemane: was a member of the ruling party and former Consular in Frankfurt. He was arrested in early 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Firon Woldu: was a member of the ruling party and former director at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. He was arrested in early 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Ibrahim Siraj: was a member of the ruling party and former diplomat in Suadi Arabia. He was arrested in early 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Hamid Mohammed Sa'id: a journalist who was arrested in March 2003 when he was working for the national TV. He is detained in Wenjel Marmara prison in Asmara. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Salih El Gaza'eri: is a journalist, was arrested in March 2003 when he was working for the official Radio (Voice of Masses). He is detained in Wenjel Marmara prison in Asmara. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Aho Mohammed Aho: was a Secretary of the Parliament of the South Red Sea. He was arrested in 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Ali Mohammed Ibrahim: was arrested in 2002. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Ibrahim Sa'id: was a former officer at the Commission of Humanitarian Aid and Rehabilitation. He was arrested in July 2003. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.

Mr. Akhlilu Mogos

Mr. Berhe Tesfamariam: is an engineer and was a member of the ruling party who was arrested in November 2003. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Ermias Debessai: was a member of the ruling party, a former Ambassador in China. Earlier in 1997 he was brought to court and condemned of corruption. He served his prison sentence but re-arrested in November 2003. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Ghermai Yohannes: was a sportsman who was arrested in November 2003. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Colonel Yemane Fesseha: (Wad Rago) was a police officer who was arrested in November 2003. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Mohammed Osman: the former Scertary of Gash- Barka Regional Parliament who was arrested in November 2003. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Solomon Habtom: was a member of the ruling party and former head of one of the bureaus at the Ministry of Communication and Transportation. He was arrested in June 2003. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
General Habtetsion Hadgu: is the former commander of Air Force. He was arrested in November 2003. Before that he had been arrested for some months. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Ms. Asnayit Debessai: is a guitarist and was a member of the ruling party and mother of three children. She is imprisoned in Wenjel Marmara in Asmara because she requested divorce through court from her influential husband (a former Ambassador to Kenya). A police officer visits Asnayit every three months asking her whether she changed her mind about divorce and as she insists on divorce she is returned to prison every time. Asnayit who claims to being beaten by her husband emphasizes that she prefers prison to keeping her marriage bond.
Ms. Astier yohannes: was an MA student in the US and wife of the former minister Betros Solomon. She was in prison since September 2001. She returned upon guarantees by the authorities that she will not be arrested. She has been arrested at the airport and was not allowed even to see her children and mother who were waiting at the airport. Since then authorities did not allow any type of visits to Ms. Johannes including herfamily. She is kept in solitary detention at Wenjel Marmara in Asmara.
Haj Idriss: was a mosque Imam at Adardi Mosque. He was affiliated to Ansar El Sunna Islamic group, which not known of political activism. He has been detained since November 2003 at Wingil Marmara prison and has not been brought to court.
Mr. Taha Abdelgadir: is a member of Ansar El Sunna Islamic group and was active in Islamic Call at Gaza Banda Mosque. He is at his twenties. He was arrested in 2004 and detained at Wenjel Marmara but has not been brought to a court .
Ms. Hayat Ibrahim Nour Hussien: was affiliated to Asnar El Sunna. She has been arrested in November 2004 and detained in Wenjel Marmara but has not been brought to court.
Fr. Gabr Medhanie Ghbregargis: a priest in Orthodox Church, the biggest church in the country.He was arrested in late November 2004.
Dr. Tekhliab Mengestab: a priest in the Orthodox Church. He was arrested in late November 2004.
Dr. Fazom Gabringous: a priest in the Orthodox Church. He was arrested in late November 2004.
Fr. Kidani Ghbremosgal: is a priest at the Full Gospel Church. He is at his fifties. He was arrested in March 2005. He has been deported from a policestation in Asmara to Semble Prison.
Fr. Fanuel Mehretab: is a priest at the Full Gospel Church too. He is at his fifties. He was arrested in March 2005. He has been deported from a policestation in Asmara to Simble Prison.
Mr. Towlde Ghbremedhin: was a trade unionist who was arrested on 30th March 2005. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Menési Andzion: was a trade unionist who was arrested on 30th March 2005. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.
Mr. Hebtom Wadmichael: was a trade unionist too who was arrested on 11th April 2005. His whereabouts is unknown and his family is not allowed to visit him. No charges were filed against him nor been taken to a court.

Names of persons arrested between 1992 and 2005 and have not been included in the last year report
Eritrean authorities arrested hundreds of persons between 1992 and 2005. Suwera Center for Human Rights (SCHR) 2005 report listed the names of some of those detainees, but it is emphasized in that report that the said list was not inclusive because of difficulties related to collecting of information about prisoners. In the current report SCHR adds more names that have been verified through authentic sources who approached us or whom we contacted. This list does not include all names of detainees of the reporting period, they are the names that we were able to collect necessary information about. They are:

Mr. Mohammed Marant Nasour: was a judge in Keren who was arrested in 1991. He was detained in Karshali prison until 1997 but he has been moved to an unknown place therefore his contacts with his family have been interrupted. No charges have been filed against Mr. Nasour nor been brought to a court.
Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Malik: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute at Keren. He was arrested in 1992.
Mr. Osman Mohammed Nour: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute at Keren. He was arrested in 1992.
Mr. Osman Abdelnour Muhammed: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute at Keren. He was arrested in 1992. He was arrested in 1992.
Mr. Musa Ibrahim Fargallah: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute at Keren. He was arrested in 1992.
Mr. Ahmed Masmar Hazout: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute at Keren. He was arrested in 1992.
Mr. Idriss Muhammed Saíd: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute at Keren. He was arrested in 1992.
Mr. El Hassan Ali Azouz: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute at Keren. He was arrested in 1992.
Mr. Ibrahim Gam'ei Hamid:was a teacher and director of the Islamic Dia (light) Institute who was arrested in 1992. He was detained at Karshili prison in Asmara until 1997 then he has been moved to an unknown place. Currently, his whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Mohammed Tahir Hamid Okod: was a teacher and deputy director of the Islamic Dia (light) Institute who was arrested in 1992. He was detained at Karshili prison in Asmara until 1997 then he has been moved to an unknown place. Currently, his whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Ibrahim Bakheit Malik: was a teacher at the Anabasa Wazantet Islamic Institute who was arrested in 1992. He was detained at Karshili prison in Asmara until 1997 then he has been moved to an unknown place. Currently, his whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Abdlalim Mohammed Ali Zar'oum: was a teacher at the Anabasa Wazantet Islamic Institute who was arrested in 1992. He was detained at Karshili prison in Asmara until 1997 then he has been moved to an unknown place. Currently, his whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Abdelrahman Ali Amharai: was a teacher at the Anabasa Wazantet Islamic Institute who was arrested in 1992. He was detained at Karshili prison in Asmara until 1997 then he has been moved to an unknown place. Currently, his whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Mohammed Hamid Osman: was a teacher at the Islamic Dia (light) Institute who has been arrested in 1992. He was detained at Karshili prison in Asmara until 1997 then he has been moved to an unknown place. Currently, his whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Abubaker Ali Nour: arrested in 1993 together with his son who was a teacher at Wazantet Institute. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Omer Abubaker Ali Nour: a teacher at Wazantet and Anabasa Institutes, arrested in 1993. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him nor has he been brought to a court.
Mr. Shom Salih Ya'goub: was a separation advocate. Arrested in Addis Ababa in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Nafié Ibrahim Fikkak: was a teacher at the Islamic Dia (light) Institute at Karan who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Faraj Abubakr El Haj: was a teacher at the Islamic Dia (light) Institute at Karan who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Abdelwahab Ibrahim Gama Hamid: was a student at the Islamic Institute at Keren who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Yaseen Hamid Nafie: was a teacher at the Ansaba Islamic Institute at Keren who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Osman Mohammed Ali Ibrahim Gedem: he was the Imam of the Grand Mosque at Karan. He was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Ahmed Masmar Ibrahim: he was a teacher at the Ansaba Islamic Institute at Keren who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Yaseen Ahmed Zayed: was a teacher at the Ansaba Islamic Institute at Keren who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Gabir Hussein: is a merchant arrested at Keren in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Gabir Hamid ukad: is a merchant arrested at Keren in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Mohammed Adam Da'oud: He was a head of Senhet Regiona Parliament, arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Idriss Mohammed Ali: was a director of the Islamic Dia (light) Institute who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Mahmoud Ali Gam'ei: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute at Keren who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Fuáad Mahmoud Omer: was a director of the Charity Offerings Organization in Asmara. Arrested on 15th December 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Hassan Abdelrahman Dirar: was a teacher at El dia Islamic Institute in Keren who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Hassan Ali Nour Dirar: was a teacher at the Islamic Institute in Keren who was arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. El Shaikh Mohammed Ibrahim Shedly: arrested at Mansoura in late 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Idriss Saíd Ari: was a teacher at El Dia Islamic Institue in Keren, arrested in 1994. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Abdelallah Ibrahim Idris Adra: originally from Andrayeib/Agordat. He was commissioner of Takrariet district before his arrested in 1995. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Adam Ibrahim: Was graduated from Um Durman Islamic University.

He was arrested in 1996.

Mr. Suliman Abou Bker Ebraheem: He was arrested in 1996 at Sanafi town. His wife Fatima Ismail Mohammed had been killed during arrest. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him
Mr. Abdellah Ali Nassir: arrested in 1996 at Sanafi town. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Ibrahim Omer Bahibaish: He was arrested in 1996 in Sanafi. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Amir El Sir: a Sudanese national, arrested in 1996. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Osman Salih Hamid: He was arrested in 1996 in Hagaat.
Mr. Ibrahim Idirss Mohammed Ali (Mangous): arrested in El Gash in 1997.
Mr. Hamid Omer Hashishai: arrested in 1997. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Mohammed Daóud Mohammed Osman Daóud: a religion man, arrested in Gonia in 1999. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Adam Muhammed Osman Daóud: a religion man, arrested in Gonia in 1999.
Abdo Idres Mousa : He was arrested on 12/7/2002 in Asmara. He was arrested in 1996 in Hagaat.
Mr. Ibrahim Ismail Omer: a schoolteacher graduated from Suadi Arabia, arrested in 2003. His whereabouts is not known. No charges have been filed against him.
Mr. Mohammed Salih Adam: a member of Ansar El Sunna Islamic group, arrested in Asmara in March 2004. It is said that he has been informed by the prison director that he had been sentenced to four years imprisonment. He is imprisoned at Simble prison.
Mr Ahmed Siraj: a member of Ansar El Sunna Islamic group, arrested in Asmara in March 2004. It is said that he has been informed by the prison director that he had been sentenced to four years imprisonment. He is imprisoned at Semble prison.
Mr. Mohammed Burhan: a member of Ansar El Sunna Islamic group, arrested in Asmara in March 2004. It is said that he has been informed by the prison director that he had been sentenced to four years imprisonment. He is imprisoned at Semble prison.
Mr. Abdelrahman Mohammed Nour: a member of Ansar El Sunna Islamic group, arrested in Asmara in March 2004. It is said that he has been informed by the prison director that he had been sentenced to four years imprisonment. He is imprisoned at Simble prison.
Muhmaad Omer Ismail: Graduated in Cairo University. He was arrested in 2004.
Fr. Haili Niazgi: the head of the Full Gospel Church, arrested on 23rd May 2004.
Dr. Kafli GabremasgAl: head of the Eritrean Protestant Alliance. Arrested on 23rd May 2004.
Fr. Tesfasion Hagous: of the Protestant Rima Church. Arrested on 27th May 2004.
Fr. Kedani Waldai: arrested in 2004.
Fr. Abraham Blai: arrested in 2004.
Mr. Ala El Din Idirs El Nour (Wagar): a Sudanese national, arrested in 2004. He is imprisoned in a prison run by the Military Intelligence in Rubda area.
Mr. Adam Ali Ismail: arrested in May 2004 and has been moved from Tesnai prison to an unknwn place in July 2004.
Mr. Matar Mohammed Osman: a Sudanese national, arrested in December 2004. He is imprisoned in Simble prison in Asmara.
Mr. Tekhli Tesfai: is 73 years old and affiliated to Jehovah Witnesses. He has a dual nationality, Eritrean and Dutch. He was arrested on 27th may 2005 and informed by the director of Wengl Marmar prison that he had been sentenced to five years of imprisonment.
Mr. Salah Ajlawi: holds a dual nationality, Sudanese and Eritrean. He was arrested in June 2005. is whereabouts is unknown and his family has not been allowed to visit him.
Salih Ali Abo Ali: used to work in trading between Sudan and Eritrea, arrested in June 2005 in Adebra disctrict. His whereabouts is unknown.
Mr. Fotoy Gazai: works for the USA Embassy in Asmara as a web editor. Was arrested in September 2005. Minister of Information accused him of trafficking.
Mr. Benyam Germai: the deputy manager of the buildings at the USA Embassy in Asmara. Was arrested in September 2005. He has been accused of trafficking, which mostly means helping others to leave the country.

Arbitrary Arrested persons during November 2005 – December 2006
Security organs arrested hundreds of persons during November 2005 – December 2006. Names listed hereunder are those which have been verified through relatives, friends and acquaintances of prisoners. The list doesn't include those who have been detained for short periods such as members of the unregistered religious denominations, which are required to register with governmental Religion Department. This people are usually arrested during rituals and religious celebrations in big numbers and all of most of them are usually released after few days upon signing an assurance not to participate in such activities. Fathers and mothers of evaders of military service and affiliates of some Christian dinomenat are the most categories that subjected to detention during the reporting period. While releasing fathers and mothers of evaders of military service requires paying a fine of 50,000 Nagfa (around USD 2000), arrested evaders themselves are taken to camps after spending some time in prison.

Below is a list of those who have been arrested during the said period and remained in prison until the end of the year.

Mr. Idirs Mohammed Ali: one of the most prominent singers in the country, arrested in late November 2005.
Mr. Taha Mohammed Nour: one of the founders of ELF and member of its Higher Council, arrested in late November 2005.
Mr. Salah Grenit: was an employee of the Eritrean Airlines in Asmara, arrested in late November 2005.
Mr. Geime Saíd Kemel: was a reporter and sport journalist at Eritrea El Haditha newspaper, arrested in late November 2005.
Mr. Mohammed Geime Arri: was a police officer, arrested in November 2005.
Mr. Adam Salih: a journalist arrested in November 2005 in Asmara.
Mr. Abubaker Bareg Ramadan: Was an employee at the Administration of Keren town, arrested in late November 2005.
Mr. Abdlallah Ramadan: a businessman, arrested in late November 2005.
Mr. Omer Kikia: was an employee at the Ministry of Education in Keren, arrested in late November 2005.
Mr. Mohammed Nour Ahmed: arrested in late November 2005.
Mr. Mohammed Abdelhalim Hamouda: a writer and a businessman, arrested in Barento in late November 2005.
Mr. Mohammed Adam Shalshal: was a police man arrested in November 2005.
Mr. Ahmed Musa Geime: was an army officer, arrested in November 2005.
Mr. Nasr El Din El Silaihabi: a Sudanese national, arrested in November 2005. He is detained in Wenjel Marmara prison.
Mr. Khalil Mohammed Khalil: a Sudanese national, arrested in December 2005. He is detained in Semble.
Mr. Ahmed Bokari: was a government employee arrested in Dankalia in December 2005. He is detained in Adi Khala prison.
Mr. Ibrahim Lee: trader works at the Yemen-Eritrea borders, arrested in December 2005 at Dankalia. He is at his seventies.
Mr. Nouri Ahmed: arrested in South Dankalia in early 2006.
Mr. Wad Garray: arrested in Tesnei in April 2006.
Mr. Tesmgen Barhi: arrested in Tesnei in April 2006.
Ms El Ganish Fesha: mother of the officer Alexander Aragi, arrested in 2006.
Mr. Malaki Mabrahtu: arrested in Tesnei in April 2006.
Mr. Abdlallah El Faki: a tailor arrested in Barento in May 2006.
Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Ahmed:was a commissioner of Af Hambul, then moved to Artillery Forces. He was arrested in Barento in May 2006.
Mr. Idirs Musa Kalam (Wad Barento): an owner of a tourism office. Arrested in Asmara in May 2006.
Mr. Hamid Mahmoud Dalli: a mechanic, arrested in Barento in May 2006.
Mr. Omer Malik Baro: was a judge, arrested in Barento in May 2006.
Mr. Musa Osman Kheyar: arrested in Barento in May 2006.
Mohammed Ismail Anga: a journalist in Eritrea El haditha newspaper and painter, arrested in May 2006.
Mr. Salah Idris (Sinyous): a former editor-in-chief of El Nabd, the newspaper of the National Union of Youth, arrested in May 2006.
Mr. Hussien Musa Halab: arrested in Tesnei on 5th August 2006.
Omer Humad: arrested in Agordat in Dcember 2006.
Mr. Totai Mohammed Salih Ali: arrested in Ablet district in September 2006.
Mr. Hebti Tekhle Sambet: arrested in Haikuta in September 2006.
Mr. Omer Ali: arrested in Kellit I September 2006.
Mr. Abdllah Salih Nassir: arrested in Tesney in September 2006.
Mr. Ibrahim Abdelgader Jailani: was an officer in the Endowment Department, arrested In Asmara in Ocotber 2006.
Mr. Salih Osman Ali (El Rashid): from Id Ibrahim village in western Eritrea. Graduated in the Military Academy in Iraq. Worked as an instructor at the Military Academy in Asmara and trainer in Sawa camp. Arrested in Agordat in November 2006.
Mr. Sharif Ali Idirs: arrested immediately after independace and released. Worked in trading between Eritrea and Sudan. Arrested in November 2006.
Mohammed Ali Osman Yousif (Abu Samira): worked as a commissioner for Germika and in trading in Agordat. Arrested in late November 2006.
Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed Omer: worked for ruling party then for the Conderation of Laborers and in trading in Agordat. Arrested in late November 2006.
Mr. Mahmoud Haj Omer: arrested in Agordat in December 2006.
Mr. Yaseen Hamid: arrested in Hagat town in December 2006.
Mr.Omer Abu Alsadig: a former soldier, arrested in December 2006.
Dr. Omer El Din Ibrahim: a dentist graduated from Damscus University, arrested in December 2006.
Mr. Ezra Agba Selassie: a merchant in Tesnei, arrested in December 2006 and is properties have been confiscated.

Torture in Eritrean Prisons
Prisons are everywhere in Eritrea. In addition to those known prisons such as Wenjil Marmar, Semble and Karshali in Asmara there are tens of secret detention centers that run by intelligence in different parts of the country. In all these prisons there are basement cells for conscience prisoners. Also, in all of them there are rooms dedicated for torture. Moreover, there are those prisons in the open air such as those located within military camps in AdI Abeyto near to Asmara, Barinto and Sawa and elsewhere. In some prisons metal containers are used as cells as in Asbab and Sawa in western Eritrea. Both places are located in zones known to be among the highest temperatures in the country. Authorities usually put around fifty prisoners in a metal container that make them sleep alternately. Prisoners kept at the intelligence cells are deprived from washing themselves for months, while it is allowed once a week in regular prisons. In open-air prisons, prisoners are allowed to take bath once a week in holes with stagnant waters. Those who miss their turn for one reason or another have to wait for another week. Prisoners are only allowed to use lavatory once a day, therefore, some of them find themselves compelled to use food cans for urine. Medical care is lacking in most prisons as there are neither facilities nor medical professionals. Prisoners are fed on bread and tea twice a day. Therefore, because of malnutrition and the unhealthy conditions in prisons several prisoners were dead upon arrival to hospitals or even before they are moved to them.

Prisoners in Eritrea are totally isolated from the world outside, they receive no newspaper, radio or TV. Prisoners fired or evaded from the national (military) service are forced to work in paving roads, digging in mountains and cutting rocks with bare feet to restrict them from fleeing away in zones known of high temperature.

There are a number of types of torture in the Eritrean prisons, which include beating with electric sticks and water pipes, beating on sexual organs, standing under the mid-day sun, bonding hands and legs( 8 shape) forcing prisoners to put themselves in water containers with very cold water and then beating their feet, the so-called helicopter and hanging on trees.

In a testimony to SHRC by Mr. Abu Bakr El Tigani, Sudanese who had been released in February 2006, he reported that he had been subjected to torture in an office belongs to the Eritrean Intelligence called the 'White House', which equipped with basement cells. Mr. El Tigani reported that his hands had been tied even when he goes to sleep for the entire one and half month he spent in one of these cells. He had been beaten by electric sticks and plastic pipes in sensitive parts of his body. He had never been allowed to take a bath. In the detention place there was a special room for torturing prisoners. They are immersed in cold water covered with a layer of ice then they are beaten on feet and tied to the wall. According to Mr. El Tigani prisoners sleep on the ground without beds or covers. He emphasized that he saw a number of prisoners at Wenjel Marmar prison creeping on their way out of torture rooms because of feet whipping they were subjected to. He also heard cries of beaten women. In fact, women are usually beaten raped by officers.

III

Violence and Discrimination against Women

Eritrean women are subject to a various types of domestic and state violence in addition to the lack of equal opportunities in fields of education, training and employment as well as health care. Ironically, Eritrean women have contributed a lot to the struggle for independence. Furthermore, article 7 of the frozen constitution, since its adoption in 1997, prohibits practices that violate women rights, degrade them or impede their participation. Also, Eritrea is a state party to CEDAW since 1995.

While some patterns of discrimination and violence are related to the discriminative traditions in the society, the government is responsible of other several practices because they did provide conditions conducive to combating traditional practices and because of the involvement of their structures and policies that consolidate such practices. For example the government does not allow establishing independent civil society organizations and media, which oppress the initiative of the society to eradicate negative practices. The government is also retarded in undertaking legal reforms that prohibit or criminalize some practices such as FGM which represent one of the most harmful practices against Eritrean women.

According to the government’s report submitted to CEDAW Committee, which has been discussed on 24th January 2006, 89% of Eritrean women are subjected to FGM. The National Women Union (one of the governmental bodies) organized in 2006 an awareness raising campaign against FGM. A leader of the Union declared that one of the goals of their campaign is to lobby the Parliament to issue a legislation to prohibit FGM. However, this is an incredible goal as the Parliament did never convene since February 2002.
Young ladies are subject to different types of violence and exploitation in national (military) service camps. Indeed, rape in these camps forced a great number of Eritrean families to take their daughters from schools and marry them in early age or take them outside the country. A number of girls who have been interviewed by SCHR reported that they left school to avoid national service camps. They fled to Sudan when they realized that leaving school is not enough to evade military service and the bad-reputed Sawa Camp.

In addition to traditions that prevent rape victims from filing complaints because of fear of stigma, the current Criminal Act does not provide necessary protection for victims. In fact, article 589 of this act conditions proving of rape to be accompanied with violence and using of force. This helped a lot of perpetrators such as army officers at training camps to escape punishment as they don not need to use force to rape their subordinates, i.e., conscripted girls. In fact, they have enough power to intimidate them. Rape is a crime with using violence or without.

The case of Sennayet Debesai is a clear example of violence and discrimination against women in Eritrea. This lady is in prison since 2003 simply to force her to stop seeking divorce from her influential husband.

Arbitrary arrest is one of the most serious types of violence against women. There are tens of women in prison because of political opinion, religious belief, seeking equality in marriage relationships or because of the escape of their husbands or sons from military service. They have been subjected to torture, detention in harsh conditions and separation from their children. Among those who are arbitrarily arrested:

Ms. Aster Fissehatsion, arrested since September 2001 as a part of the campaign against reformers. She suffers from ulcer. Her family is not allowed to visit her, her whereabouts is not known.
Ms. Mariam Hagos arrested in the same above date with same above group and in similar conditions.
Ms. Aster Johannes was an MA student in the US and wife of the former minister Petros Solomon. She is in prison since September 2001. She returned upon guarantees by the authorities that she will not be arrested. However, she has been arrested at the airport and was not allowed even to see her children and mother who were waiting to receive her at the airport. Since then authorities did not allow any type of visits to Ms. Johannes including her family. She is kept in solitary detention at Wenjel Mermera in Asmara.
Ms. Hayat Ibrahim Nour Hussein, arrested as a part of Ansar El Sunna group since 2004. She had dispute with the Mufti (Grand Shaikh, which is an official position) over religion educational program in a mosque belongs to her religious group.
Ms. Alganesh Fisseha, mother of the officer Alexander Aregai, arrested in 2006.
Ms. Sennayet Tesfai, a journalist worked in the Tigringa Department in the Eritrean TV. She was arrested in November 2006.

There are also tens of other women who have been imprisoned because of the escape of their husbands or sons from military service. Some of them were pregnant or breath-feeding their children.

The gap between men and women in education and employment has increased over the period 1991-2001. According to statistics released by the government, the general enrollment rate (GER) of girls in secondary schools

decreased from 48.3% in 1991/1992 to 36.8 in 2000/2001 . The government report to CEDAW Committee notes that withdrawal of girls from schools increases with moving to higher levels of schooling. The low percentage of girls who passed the qualifying exams to enter university in 1999/2000 is an evidence of a big problem in the educational environment. In fact, out of a body 2905 students who sat for exams, only 161 girls have passed the exam, i.e., only 5.5%.

The gap in employment has increased too. In school teaching, one of the most attracting sectors for women in Eritrea, the percentage of women schoolteachers decreased from 11.4% in 1998/1999 to 9.6 in 2000/2001.

The percentage of mothers' mortality is one of the highest in the world as it amounts to 998 of 100,000 according to the above-mentioned report.

Temesgen Kifle, Educational Gender in Eritrea,http//www.wiwi.uni-bremen.de/iwim

Combined initial and second periodic reports of States parties: Eritrea.

Violations took place in the framework of military service program

The violations committed by authorities in the context of the implementation of the national (military) service got worse during 2006. For example, age of children allowed to accompany their parents in traveling abroad was reduced from eight to five year. For the first time, executions were carried out in public spaces against those who were accused of providing assistance to evaders to flee to the neighboring Sudan (for names of victims see section I).

Security forces and borders’ guards opened fire on several evaders at the border with Sudan and Ethiopia. There are unconfirmed reports that bodies with signs of gun shots were found close to the Sudan – Eritrea borders that are believed to be of individuals attempted to flee across borders but shot before crossing. Some evaders died when they lost their way, others were killed or robbed by bandits active at the borders.

Authorities continued erecting barricades on the streets and breaking into houses searching for evaders from military service. During 2006 authorities arrested thousands of family members of those evaded from the program and conditioned their release with the payment of Nakfa 50,000, equivalent to more than USD 2000. A lady interviewed by SCHR in Sudan (named Ms. Adiam reported that she was arrested at the background of the escape of her husband and remained in detention for four days although she was pregnant. She was released only when she paid the fine.

Authorities did not observe the legal age of conscripts. They conscripted under-age as well as persons who were above fifty. They also kept conscripts for durations beyond what stipulated in the law, i.e., 18 months as some of them remained in service for more than ten continuous years.

Authorities are keeping in prison a Sudanese national called Sami Balla El Wasila since 1996. This person was deported from Saudi Arabia together with a group of Eritreans who broke residence laws in Saudi Arabia. He claimed to be Eritrean believing that it might help him to go back to Saudi Arabia easier than by showing his original nationality. As soon as he arrived at Eritrea, he has been transferred together with his Eritrean fellows to the national service camp where he is still under detention until the time of editing this report. It is said that he is working in a technical workshop in Sawa camp. Authorities did not allow one of his family members who traveled all the way to Eritrea to visit him.

Conscripts are exploited as unpaid workers in governmental agricultural schemes and in private farms belonged to senior military officers for long hours and in harsh conditions.

The decision of taking university entry exams at the Sawa camp remained effective in 2006. Conditions in that camp remained harsh as they were in the previous years. Breakfast was composed of only a piece of bread and a cup of tea while only bread and lentils were served in lunch and dinner. Meat was served once a month and clean drinking water was never available for students.

A lot of insects and reptiles such as mosquitoes, scorpions and snakes were everywhere in the camp. According to testimonies of several evaders, there were abundant cases of malaria, meningitis and anemia. Several students experienced trauma due to the conditions in the camp and harassment of officers. An evader who escaped the camp of Sawa, called Salih Muhammed Mahmoud, reported that a student from South Read Sea committed suicide in July 2006 by hanging himself due to these conditions.

Class rooms are over crowded and lack proper ventilation as they were not equipped with windows or fans. Library was an open roofed space that allows dust and hot air. While girls were provided with beds for sleeping, boys were left to sleep on blankets put on the floor. There was no hygiene utilities, indeed one student who fled to Sudan reported that they used to excrete in one place that lacked water for washing.

The administration at the camp prohibited students from practicing their religious rituals. Muslims were prevented from performing prayers and fasting Ramadan, while Christians were not allowed to hold The Bible or read from it. A Muslim student told SCHR that they used to do prayers in a sitting position in order not to be noticed by officers who would penalize them. In fact, one student was put in prison then, moved to an unknown place because he was found praying in a number of occasions. Moreover students were deprived of vacations on religious holidays.

The administration of the secondary school at Sawa camp applied the same physical penalties applied in national service camp such as whipping, standing under sun rays, creeping on hot sand and shaving head hair. A student escaped from the camp, reported that a student called Izzeldin Ramadan from Keren attempted escaping but failed. After spending some time in prison Izzeldin had been beaten in front of his colleagues and asked to tour the camp crying loudly "this is the result of my attempt to flee, you should take me as an example". Then he had been taken with hands bonded together to Umhemami district and since then no body heard about him.
SCHR field researchers received several testimonies about rape cases that took place in national service camp in addition to the exploitation of girls in household tasks by officers.

State of Eritrean Refugees

Refugees in Sudan
Flows of refugees to Sudan

According to the Sudan Commission of Refugees (COR), the number of Eritrean refugees in Sudan amounted to 431,611 in December 2006; around 100,000 live in camps while the rest live in towns.

The fluxes of refuge remained high although Eritrean authorities took firm measures to put an end to the escaping from the country. For example, security forces were instructed to open fire on those who attempt at crossing borders. Furthermore, authorities executed a number of individuals, who had been accused of assisting conscripts evading national service to cross border, in a public space in Tessenei, and arrested parents who were not released until they paid fines. According to COR, the number of refugees entered Sudan in 2006 were 6424, 5889 of them were entered through El Showak Administration and the rest through Portsudan. Upon legal assessment of the applications of the asylum seekers, 5881 of those interviewed at El Showak were granted refugee status, i.e., 99% of the applicants. They then were transferred from the reception camp in Wad Sharifai to Kilo 26. Some of those refugees sneaked to Sudanese towns and urban centers because of lack of necessities as well as opportunities of work and education. Among those refugees are unaccompanied children, therefore the camp administration assigned their care to some families in Wad Sharifai Camp. However, figures above don’t include those who sneaked directly to Sudanese towns without applying for a refugee status; some of them were arrested in the course of campaigns waged by Sudanese authorities to control foreign presence in the country.

Situation in refugees' Camps in Sudan

The situation of refugees in camps remained as it was in 2005. It is even worse in terms of nutrition as they received only 25% of food rations allocated for June and July. In previous years this quota was decreased to the half as donors did not meet their promises. Refugees camps suffered other problems such as decline of water supplies due to lack of fuel necessary for operating water pumps as well as the break down of some of water pumps in addition to the unavailability of spare parts necessary for maintenance. A joint committee of COR and the UNHCR was formed to examine water problem. It concluded to some recommendations that have never been realized up to the minute of drafting this report.

A number of diseases affected the camp including malaria, diarrhea and Pneumonia. This takes place in circumstance where health services suffer lack of fund, lack of medicine, lack of ambulances necessary for the referral of emergency cases and no-existence of resident doctors due to the limited salaries paid (not more than USD 200). Preventive medicine also suffers problems such as lack of pesticides, adequate pumps for applying pesticides and lack of hygiene utilities, except for only 50% of families in the camp.

Appeals of thousands of asylum seekers who were found ineligible in the past or failed to show up for circumstance out of their hands were not considered in 2006.

Refugees in Ethiopia

Around 100,000 Eritrean refugees are living in Shalamba Camp in Ethiopia. There are also other refugees live in Ethiopian towns for which statistics are not available. The numbers of refugees cross borders to Ethiopia decreased because of the firm procedures applied by authorities against escapees and their families. From an average of 25 persons per day during 2000 - 2005, the average of those succeed in crossing borders decreased in 2006 to 9 – 13 individuals per day. Refugees in Shalamba camp suffer lack of health care and medication. The most prevalent disease is malaria and HIV/AID is the second. The camp's doctor reported that during the first six months of 2006, he treated 152 cases of sexually-transmitted diseases. This is an obvious indicator of prevalence of HIV/AIDS as some women refugees are compelled to go into prostitution to meet their material needs. Against each one woman in the camp there are four men, most of them are young ex soldiers. Also among the population of the camp there are some unaccompanied children.

Permission to visit the AIDS control center at Shiraro, which is located 20 kilometers from the camp, is given to only five persons per week. Among each five examined case, three were found HIV positive.

Illegal migration

In 2006 some refugees illegally sneaked from Sudan to other countries. In most cases they head to Libya through the desert as a step to move to European countries. This dangerous journey led to the death of several refugees by drowning. Others are arrested in Libya, in fact hundreds were remained in Libyan prisons by December 2006 facing the danger of being deported to Eritrea. The Libyan authorities had already deported in 2004 two groups of refugees to Eritrea. The fate of the group deported in July 2004 is unknown. The second group was deported in August of the same year but they forced the pilot to land at Khartoum airport where passengers were granted refugee status. Yet, some of them spent two years in prison before being granted refugee status with the accusation of forcing the pilot to land in Khartoum. However, Libyan authorities have released some Eritrean refugees whom they arrested in 2005 and early 2006.
VI

The response of the international community to human rights violations in Eritrea

Background
The tension in Eritrea’s international relations heightened in 2006 at the background of a decision taken in October 2005 by authorities. That decision imposes embargo on the flights of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE). Eritrea's rejection to abide by the Security Council resolution issued in November 2005 that requested it to reconsider the embargo and threatened with sanctions further complicated these relations. Additionally, this tension got worse when Eritrea’s government extradited international monitors working for UNIMEE who hold western nationalities and arrested local staff.

In 2006, Security Council (SC) decided to downsize its peacekeepers force for Eritrea-Ethiopia from 3300 to 2300 personnel although tension between the two countries was high because of the lack of implementation of the decision of the Independent Boundary Commission and the support both sides provided to the conflicting parties in Somalia.

Eritrea relations with the US witnessed more deterioration in 2006 due to what the former considered as bias by the latter to Ethiopia in the border conflict. In Early 2006, Eritrea refused to receive Jendayi Fraser, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs who was planning to attempt at convincing officials to accept SC resolution no. 1640 and to visit the disputed borders. Both countries took penalizing measures against each other as they restricted the movement of diplomats within each country and suspended visas.

Bilateral relations with the European Union (EU) also witnessed tension, although to a lesser extent. In a statement to the BBC, Greet Heikens, EU Ambassador to Asmara accused Eritrea’s government of selling food aid. He emphasized that he sent a number of communications to the Ministry of Development, Ministry of Labor and Humanitarian Affairs since last May but received no reply. Therefore, he explored in Brussels what appropriate measures EU can take. Ambassador Heikens indicated that one of the possible options is to ask Asmara to pay back the cost of food aid, which amounts to USD 3 million.

Further restrictions on international humanitarian organizations were imposed by the Eritrean authorities as they asked these organizations to deposit USD 2 million in a local account. In February 2006 six Italian NGOs were expelled because they did not fulfill this condition. In March, International Medical Corps (IMC), which implemented a number of projects in different fields including health care as well as water constructions, left the country due to restrictions. By the end of 2006, more than ten INGOs left the country due to the same reasons.

Responses of international community to human rights violations
International human rights organizations issued a number of reports, communications and appeals during 2006 regarding human rights situation in Eritrea. They also devoted considerable parts of their annual reports to this situation. For example, in addition to devoting a considerable part of its annual report to the situation in Eritrea, Amnesty International (AI) issued a statement on the Anniversary of Eritrea independence on 24th May 2006 calling President Isaias Afewerki to use the occasion to undertake urgent reforms in the field of human rights, which are long waited by Eritreans in the country and abroad as well as by the international community. In another statement on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of detaining the reformists, AI called on 18th September 2006 for forming an independent and neutral committee to visit the secret detention of this group and meet them in confidentiality and publish its findings publicly. AI also released on 21st December 2006 a statement regarding the detention of parents of military service evaders in addition to appeals concerning prisoners of conscience in Eritrea.
Human Rights Watch also devoted a special section in its annual report of 2006 for human rights situation in Eritrea concluding that Eritrea’s government became more ruthless. Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) issued a number of reports and statements on journalistic freedoms in Eritrea. For example, they issued on 30th November 2006 a statement on the detention of a number of journalists. In fact, RSF classified Eritrea the third worse state in the world and the first in Africa in 2006 in terms of respect of journalistic freedoms.

The annual human rights report as well as the religious freedoms report issued by the US Department of State included harsh critics of the human rights record of the Eritrean government. The Department report on religious freedoms considered Eritrea for the second successive year a "country of particular concern" in regards to religious freedoms. In 2006, US renewed a defensive arm embargo that has been imposed on Eritrea in 2005 as a sanction for Eritrea’s refusal to improve its record of religious freedoms.

The EU was not different as the EU presidency issued a statement on 18th September 2006 on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the arrest of the reformists. The presidency called the Eritrean authorities to disclose the whereabouts of those leaders, the conditions of their detention and their health situation. They also insisted that authorities should bring them to a fair and just trial or to release them without conditions. Furthermore, EU requested from authorities to allow its delegation in Asmara to visit those prisoners.

Unlike previous years, no resolutions denouncing the government of Eritrea for their human rights record were issued by international bodies in 2006. For example, the International Parliamentarian Union issued an appeal on 23rd April 2004 demanding Eritrean authorities to release Eritrean MPs imprisoned since September 2001. Also, the African Commission for Human and Peoples Rights issued in response to a complaint by an Eritrean citizen regarding the detention of eleven leaders of reformists a resolution calling for the immediate release of prisoners and compensating them.

Unfortunately, the UN Human Rights Council showed no interest in the human rights violations took place in Eritrea in 2006.
VII

Recommendations

As the government of Eritrea did not respond to the recurrent national and international appeals to improve human rights situation in the country, but persistently introduced new patterns of violations, the current report recommends the following as a way of addressing this situation firmly:

To the Eritrean human rights and civil society organizations
Establishing a network for human rights NGOs that facilitates coordination of positions and exchange of experiences;
Organizing an international campaign through the coordination of civil society groups to press the Eritrean government to release all conscience prisoners;
Adopting complaints of individual victims in front of concerned international bodies;
Raising the awareness with human rights instruments and values among the Eritrean communities; and
Combating illegal migration through organizing awareness raising campaigns to enlighten communities with the hazards of using unsafe means of transportation as well as those resulting from violating the laws of receiving countries under unprecedented international security circumstances.

To the international human rights NGOs
Bringing human rights violations to the knowledge of the UN Human Rights Council; and
Addressing international forces that have influence on Eritrea to allow a competent international committee to visit Eritrea prisons.

To the African Commission for Human and Peoples Rights

As the Commission had already issued a decision on 20th November 2003 regarding the detention of the group of reformists appealing authorities to release and compensate them and since the government did not observe this decision, we recommend the Commission to insist on releasing those prisoners and all other prisoners of conscience or allow them a fair and just trial.

To the UN Human Rights Council

Due to the serious nature of systematic human rights violations committed by the Eritrean authorities and their reluctance to respond to all appeals to improve the human rights situation in the country, this report recommends that the Council is to appoint a special rapporteur to examine and monitor human rights situation in the country.

To the European Union

As the government of Eritrea refused to respond to the appeals issued by the EU to improve human rights situation in Eritrea, the most recent of them was of 18th September 2006 in which the EU appealed to try the group of reformists or release them and to allow the EU delegation in Eritrea to visit them, the report recommends the following:

Raising human rights violations in Eritrea at the UN Human Rights Council and requesting the appointment of a special rapporteur for Eritrea; and
Exerting more pressures on the Eritrean government in the framework of their bilateral relations to improve the human rights situation.

To the UNHCR
Working for improving the situation in refugees’ camps through drawing more support from donors, specially with regard to food assistance and provide necessary health care particularly in the field of combating and treating HIV/AIDS in refugees’ camps in Ethiopia;
Working on convincing Western countries to open resettlement, which would help in ending illegal migration with all hazards it represents to the lives of refugees and asylum seekers; and
Considering the appeals of Eritrean asylum seekers in Sudan who have been rejected in the first round or who have been unable to show up for the interview putting in mind the general circumstances in their country of origin.

Suwera Centre for Human Rights
Suwera Centre for Human Rights
(SCHR)
The Suwera Centre for Human Rights (SCHR) is apolitical independent Eritrean Centre that works for the respect of Human rights in Eritrea. It strives to achieve the following goals:

The State of Human Rights in Eritrea2006

The State of Human Rights in Eritrea
2006