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Campaign Letter Used by AI – 17 Nov 2001
President Issayas
Aferwerki
Office of the
President
PO.Box 257
Asmara, Eritrea
17 Nov 2001
Your Excellency,
I am very concerned
that several senior officials of your government who have been arrested
are being held incommunicado, and at unknown destinations, namely Ogabe
Abraha, Berhane Ghebreeghzabiher, Aster Fisehatsion, Hamid Hamid, Saleh
Kekiya, German Nati, Beraki Ghebreselassie, Estifanos Seyoum, Mahmud
Ahmed Sheriffo, Petros Solomon and Haile Woldetensae. I urge your Excellency to
disclose their whereabouts, give reasons for their detention and allow
them contact with the outside world.
I also ask that your
Excellency either charge them with a recognisable criminal offence or
release them. Should they
continue to be held we ask that they be given immediate access to lawyers
of their own choice and be allowed contact with members of their
families.
In addition we ask
for assurances that Ogbe Abraham (who suffers from asthma), Aster
Fisehatsion (who suffers from a stomach ulcer), and Haile Woldetensae
(who is diabetic) are all receiving appropriate medication and medical
attention whilst in detention.
I also wish to
express our concern about the closing down of the independent press
within the country as well as the imprisonment of several journalists who
are also being held incommunicado, namely Yousef Mohamed Ali, Amanual
Asrat, Aron Berhane, Seyoum Fsehaye, Temesgen Ghebreyesus, Mattewos
Habteab, Dawit Habtemichael, Medhanie Haile and Temesgen Ghebreyesus.
I urge that your
Excellency allow these also access to proper medical attention,
independent legal representation and contact with their families, and
that they too either be charged with a criminal offence or be released.
Your Sincerely,
cc Dr Saleh Mekki, Minister of
Health
Mr
Ghirmay Ghebremariam, Erirean Ambassador
Mr
Jack Straw
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