(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 April 1998, RSF sent an open letter to Eritrean President Afeworki protesting the continued detention of Ruth Simon, correspondent of Agence France Presse (AFP) in Eritrea. The journalist, who is also an old comrade of President Afeworki, was imprisoned on his specific orders. She has officially been charged with “publishing false […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 April 1998, RSF sent an open letter to Eritrean President
Afeworki protesting the continued detention of Ruth Simon, correspondent of
Agence France Presse (AFP) in Eritrea. The journalist, who is also an old
comrade of President Afeworki, was imprisoned on his specific orders. She
has officially been charged with “publishing false information.”
**Updates IFEX alert of 16 June 1997**
Background Information
On 25 April 1997, Ruth Simon was arrested after the publication of reports
alleging that President Afeworki had confirmed the presence of Eritrean
soldiers fighting alongside Sudanese rebels. AFP later published a denial by
the central committee of the ruling People’s Front for Democracy and
Justice, which described the original report as a “gross distortion” of the
President’s statement. According to RSF, Simon was nonetheless placed under
house arrest for betraying President Afeworki’s confidence by publishing a
piece of news received in her capacity as someone close to the President,
rather than as a journalist.
RSF claims that President Afeworki has remained deaf to the appeals launched
by the United Nations’ arbitrary detention group, at the request of RSF on
28 July and 1 October 1997. This group must rule on whether the detention
is, in fact, arbitrary. Meanwhile an International Conference on Human
Rights will take place on 18 May 1998 in Ethiopia.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to President Afeworki:
release
Appeals To
Mr. Issayas Afeworki
President of the State of Eritrea
Fax: +291 1 125123
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
