January 22/2003

 UPDATE ON THE CONDITION OF ETHIOPIAN REFUGEES IN THE SUDAN

 The roundup of Ethiopian refugees in the Sudan continues as the threat of deportation becomes more imminent.

Reliable information received by SOCEPP reveals that the North Khartoum Higher Criminal Court has sentenced more than 120 refugees to be deported back to Ethiopia. Of these, more than 20 are women and they are all now detained at the Omdurman prison. The whole process is arbitrary and tainted by political motivations since the representatives of the EPRDF are actively involved in the decision to round up and deport the Ethiopian refugees. The arbitrary nature of the measure is further highlighted by the fact that refugees holding valid IDs and other legal documents have also been sentenced. The refugees are sentenced to pay 50,000 pounds and shall be detained for seven days and consequently deported.

SOCEPP once again calls on the Sudanese government to stop the harassment and possible deportation of the refugees. There are indications that many more shall face deportation in the coming weeks. Write your ptost letters to the Sudanese government and also to the UNHCR (sudkh@unhcr.ch)  to call for the respect of the rights of the Ethiopian refugees.

SOCEPP