By Human Rights Concern–Eritrea (HRCE)
Today is a sad day.
Twenty-five years ago, on 18 September 2001, the Eritrean authorities arrested 11 former senior government officials and liberation veterans known as members of the G-15. Their alleged offence was peacefully calling for democratic reform, implementation of Eritrea’s ratified, but never implemented 1997 Constitution, and accountability within the Government.
On 18 September 2001, the Eritrean authorities also closed the country’s independent newspapers. In the following days, they detained journalists, editors and newspaper founders solely for carrying out their professional duties and reporting on matters of public interest.
None of these detainees has been formally charged, brought before an independent court or granted access to legal representation. Their families have been denied visits and reliable information about their health, whereabouts or even whether they are still alive.
For 25 years, the Eritrean Government has attempted to erase these prisoners from public life. It has refused to implement two decisions of the African Commission and a third ruling reaffirming that its earlier decision remained unfulfilled.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS WITHOUT CHARGE, TRIAL OR ANSWERS
This is not merely prolonged arbitrary detention. By refusing to acknowledge the detainees’ circumstances or disclose their fate and whereabouts, the Eritrean authorities have subjected them to enforced disappearance. Their families have endured twenty-five years of uncertainty, fear and psychological suffering.
Some detainees are reported to have died in custody, but the Government has never provided official confirmation, returned their remains or permitted an independent investigation. If any detainee has died, their family has the right to know when, where and under what circumstances the death occurred, and to receive their remains.
OUR DEMANDS
Human Rights Concern–Eritrea calls upon the Eritrean Government to:
1. disclose immediately the fate, health and precise whereabouts of every G-15 member and journalist detained in September 2001;
2. release immediately and unconditionally all surviving detainees;
3. provide them with urgent independent medical care and access to their families and lawyers;
4. return the remains of anyone who has died to their family, accompanied by complete and truthful information about the circumstances of death;
5. allow an independent investigation into alleged deaths, torture, ill-treatment, and enforced disappearances;
6. compensate the detainees and their families, as directed by the African Commission;
7. lift the prohibition on independent media; and
8. release all other prisoners of conscience held without charge or trial in Eritrea.
We call upon the African Commission, the African Union and its member states to demand a time-bound account of Eritrea’s implementation of these decisions. Non-compliance must be documented publicly and addressed at the highest levels of the African Union.
We also call upon the international community to insist on independent access to Eritrea’s detention facilities and to preserve evidence for future accountability proceedings.
Twenty-five years of silence do not extinguish the rights of the disappeared. Time does not legalise arbitrary detention, erase responsibility or relieve Eritrea of its obligations.
The G-15 members and journalists are not forgotten. Their families are entitled to truth. The detainees are entitled to liberty, justice and redress. Those responsible for their disappearance and mistreatment must ultimately be held accountable.
Release the prisoners. Reveal the truth. End enforced disappearance in Eritrea.
