September 5, 2001

STOP THE REPRESSION IN ERITREA

 As the political challenges to the rule of President Isaias Afeworki intensifies, the government in Asmara has intensified the repression against peaceful political dissent.

In this connection, we can cite the rounding up and incarceration of students, the violation of the rights of due process as concerns the political dissidents (members of the central committee of the ruling front who have taken a public stance against what they call "one man rule" by Isaias Afeworki). One of these, Hamid Hamid, has been subjected to illegal interrogation by the security police and others claim to have been warned or threatened. The leaders of the student union of Asmara University has been jailed and scores have been rounded up and imprisoned in the hot and arid Wia, which is some 30 kms from Massawa port. Already two students, including Yemane Tekie, have died while in custody and calls for the immediate release of the detained students have been ignored by the concerned. The Supreme Court judge who has been removed from his post by the government has also affirmed that the independence of the judiciary has been compromised by the ruling front itself.

 SOCEPP calls on the government in Asmara to stop the violation of the rights of the people, to release all the detained students, to cease the repression against peaceful political dissent and to heed the call for political dialogue and democratization.

SOCEPP