(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release, followed by a copy of the organisation’s letter to South African President Thabo Mbeki: ARTICLE 19 reiterates concerns about jailed journalists and political dissidents in Eritrea In a letter sent today to President Thabo Mbeki, Chairman of the African Union, ARTICLE 19 raises its […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release, followed by a copy of the organisation’s letter to South African President Thabo Mbeki:
ARTICLE 19 reiterates concerns about jailed journalists and political dissidents in Eritrea
In a letter sent today to President Thabo Mbeki, Chairman of the African Union, ARTICLE 19 raises its concerns about the continued detention, incommunicado and without trial, of at least eighteen journalists and eleven political dissidents in Eritrea since September 2001.
The letter calls on President Mbeki, in his capacity as the Chairman of the African Union, to intervene and urge the Eritrean government to release all the journalists and political dissidents in detention in Eritrea, and to call on the Government to respect the fundamental rights of its citizens.
“We are deeply concerned that the whereabouts of these detainees are unknown to their families and lawyers,” says John Barker, Director of the Africa Programme.
The letter follows:
2nd May 2003
His Excellency Thabo Mbeki
President of the Republic of South Africa
Chairman of the African Union
South African Presidency
Government Avenue
Union Building
Via Facsimile: 012 323-8246, 012 323-2573
Your Excellency,
Re: Protest against the arbitrary detention in secret of eighteen journalists and eleven political detainees in Eritrea
ARTICLE 19 – Global Campaign for Free Expression, an independent and non partisan NGO that works to promote and protect freedom of expression, would like to bring to your attention its concerns about the continued detention, incommunicado and without trial, of at least eighteen journalists and eleven political dissidents in Eritrea since September 2001.
We are deeply concerned that the whereabouts of these detainees are unknown to their families and lawyers.
On 18 September 2001, the Eritrean government banned the entire private press. Subsequently many journalists were arrested and detained; the Eritrea government as of today holds at least eighteen journalists incommunicado.
The government-owned daily newspaper, Hadas Eritrea, is now the only publication allowed to be published in the country.
On 18 and 19 September 2001, eleven former Eritrean government officials were also arrested in Asmara. They included former vice-president Mahmoud Sherifo and former foreign minister Petros Solomon.
Eritrean authorities invoked many reasons for the banning of newspapers and imprisonment of the journalists, ranging from threatening national security to failing to observe licensing requirements. They have also accused independent journalists of being paid by Ethiopian and other unidentified hostile forces, but none of these accusations have been formally brought before an independent court.
Appeals made to the government by human rights and free expression organizations have to date remained fruitless.
We are gravely concerned that these detentions are linked to the peaceful expression of opinion about political matters. The right to freedom of expression and information is guaranteed and protected by the provisions of international instruments, and treaties signed and ratified by the Government of Eritrea, notably the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 19, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Article 19, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Article 9.
Besides, there is no official information indicating the charges laid against the detainees and when they will be brought before a court of law. Article 6 of the ACHPR, Article 9 of the ICCPR and Article 9 of the UDHR prohibit arbitrary arrest.
In addition, we deplore that the detainees have been held in custody beyond a reasonable time and without authorisation by an independent and impartial court. It is against all principles of law, especially Article 7 of the ACHPR, Articles 10 and 11 of the UDHR, and Article 14 of the ICCPR, to detain a person beyond reasonable period without charges being brought before an independent and impartial tribunal.
On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, we respectfully call on Your Excellency in your capacity as the Chairman of the African Union to intervene and urge the Eritrean government to release all the journalists and political dissident in detention in Eritrea and to call on the Government to respect the fundamental rights of its citizens.
Yours faithfully,
John Barker
Director of the Africa Programme
