Source :Eritrean Democratic League (EDL)

 

Another Eritrean UN Staff Member Is Detained

Monday, 29 May 2006, 9:45 am
Press Release: United Nations Another Eritrean UN Staff Member Is Detained
By Their Country, UN Mission Says

New York, May 25 2006 5:00PM

Yet another Eritrean staff member serving with the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Ethiopia and Eritrea  (UNMEE  http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unmee/index.html) has been detained by the Eritrean authorities, the mission monitoring the disputed border between the Horn of Africa countries said today. The move follows the release, earlier this month, of one of the 11 local UN
staff members who have been detained by Eritrea. The mission has been awaiting a response from the Eritrean authorities to its letters asking why they had arrested the local staff members and expressing the hope that all of them would be released.

The border dispute led to a war between the two countries in the late 1990s. A binding decision by the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission in 2002 awarded Badme – the town that triggered the bitter, two-year war – to Eritrea. Eritrea has become increasingly critical of the UN for not forcing Ethiopia to accept that demarcation and has subsequently restricted UNMEE's movements by land and air.
 

The mission added that the military situation in the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) remained tense, with routine troop movements observed on both sides. UNMEE peacekeepers continued to provide medical assistance to the local population, along with supplies of water in bulk to civilian communities in
the TSZ and adjacent areas. The communities received approximately 19,200 litres of water during the past week and the removal of land mines continued in the same areas.

Eritrean Students imprisoned for refusing to participate in Independence Day Celebrations
Tuesday, 23 May 2006

(London 23-05-06) 54 collage students from Mai Nefhi College in Eritrea have been arrested and are being subjected to harsh punitive measures akin to military punishment for over ten days.
The group comprising 20 male and 30 female students are all evangelical and Pentecostal believers, who refused to take part in activities related to Independence Day celebrations as they felt it was contradictory with the edicts of their evangelical faith.

 According to news from Eritrea many of them have been told that they would continue to be punished until they agree to participate in the activities. Friends and parents of those imprisoned have asked for prayers on behalf of their children who should be preparing for their exams as opposed to undergoing 'military punishment'.
Dr Berhane Asmelash director of Release-Eritrea said that; 'this is reminiscent of what used to happen during the Ethiopian communist regime, then many of us were asked to join the singing and dancing troupes known as Kinet locally. On the one hand I am heartened to see
that the young people are resisting attempts to undermine their faith on the other hand I am concerned for their safety and well-being'

A high ranking official in PFDJ's security apparatus abandoned the regime.
Tuesday, 23 May 2006
BREAKING NEWS:
It has been learned from various reliable sources that the second high raking official in Eritrea's National Security Agency has abandoned the regime and sought a political asylum in Europe while on tour of duty to different Eritrean Embassies in Europe. It has been stated that Mr. Fessehaie Solomon, was a long time fighter and personal friend of Mr. Petros Solomon who is one of the high ranking government officials arrested in September 2001.
 During the pre-independence era, Mr. Solomon was working on military intelligence which was under the leadership of Mr. Petros Solomon. This was under the then 'Department -72' established and led by Mr. Petros Solomon since 1978. After independence, Mr. Solomon was working first in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and then in the Ministry of Defence where Petros Solomon presided over as Minster on both Ministries. Finally, he joined NSA in 1994 and worked there until his efection.

The reason for his defection is believed to be his disappointment and frustration by the continued human right abuses and lawlessness of the PFDJ regime in general and in the president's reckless and thoughtless handling of national affairs in particular.
Mr. Solomon had been under the watchful eyes of PFDJ loyalists particularly since 2001 for his lack of support for the governments handling of the 2001 reform movement and also for his outspoken critics of government policies. Since 2001 many government officials and diplomats have abandoned the government and sought a political asylum in Europe, USA, Australia and elsewhere. Many of them have joined and or formed opposing political
parties to the government. Mr. Solomon's defection is apparently a big blow to the government and an indication that this regime is beginning to crumple.

Source Eritrean Democratic League (EDL)