Pismo IFJ predsjedniku Eritreje

15.04.2002.

Dear Excellency, The International Federation of Journalists, the world's largest journalists' organisation representing over 500,000 journalists worldwide, is deeply concerned about the fate of ten Eritrean journalists who went on hunger strike on March 31st. According to our information, the journalists have been detained incommunicado without charge or trial since 18 September 2001, when the independent newspapers they work for were shut down by the government. On 31 March 2002 they began a hunger strike, demanding a fair trial before an independent court. Three days later they were taken from the police station where they were held, and nine were moved to undisclosed places of detention, where they are at grave risk of ill-treatment. They were detained because they published articles critical of the government. The Writers in Prison Committee has recorded the names of twenty-five journalists who are either detained and/or presumed missing in Eritrea, the highest total of any nation in Africa. No charges are known to have been filed against any of them. Several journalists have fled the country to avoid arrest. The ten journalists are: Yosef Mohamed Ali, chief editor, Tsigenay Amanuel Asrat, chief editor, Zemen Seyoum Tsehaye, freelance editor/photographer, former director of Eritrean state television Temesgen Gebreyesus, reporter, Keste Debena Mattewos Habteab, editor, Meqaleh Dawit Habtemichael, assistant chief editor, Meqaleh Medhanie Haile, assistant chief editor, Keste Debena Dawit Isaac, reporter, Setit (Swedish citizen) Fessahaye Yohannes ('Joshua'), reporter, Setit Said Abdulkadir, chief editor, Admas We are deeply concerned about their safety and urge you to order the immediate and unconditional release of all independent journalists as a matter of urgency. We also call on you to immediately re-establish freedom of expression in your country. Yours sincerely AIDAN WHITE General Secretary

Povratak