Issue No 8 September 2005
In August, CIVICUS expressed concern about the effects of a draconian NGO law in Eritrea which severely restricts civil society. The law imposes taxes on aid, limits NGOs to relief and rehabilitation work, enforces unreasonable registration requirements for local and foreign organisations, and forbids international agencies from directly funding local NGOs.
This month, international labour organisations and a press freedom group are drawing attention to Eritrea's violations of freedom of expression, assembly and association. They are demanding Eritrea release imprisoned trade unionists and journalists, many held incommunicado.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has asked the Eritrean government to account for 15 journalists who have been detained, some in secret prisons, since the government crushed private media and independent reporting four years ago. The journalists have virtually disappeared since the 18 September 2001 press crackdown and closure of privately-owned newspapers.
According to Executive Director of CPJ Ann Cooper, "Eritrea is the only country in sub-Saharan Africa which does not allow private media, depriving all its citizens of their basic right to free expression. Its record on press freedom is an outrage."
Visit the CPJ website to read the appeal, and to view a list of jailed journalists.
The international trade movement has also increased pressure on the Eritrean government to release three trade union leaders held without charge in a secret prison in the capital city Asmara.
A joint letter of complaint was submitted to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) by three prominent trade union umbrellas-- International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF), and the International Union of Food, Agriculture, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Association (IUF). The complaint, filed before the ILO's Committee on Freedom of Expression, says Eritrea is in violation of ILO conventions by imprisoning the trade unionists.
“In addition to the ILO complaint, we are exploring other vehicles for pressure on the government to secure their immediate and unconditional release,” says Guy Ryder, General Secretary of the ICFTU.
The unions' joint press release mentions Eritrea is currently receiving European Development Fund assistance which is contingent on the government's respect for human rights.
In a May 2004 report, Amnesty International estimated that "several hundreds or even thousands of prisoners of conscience are imprisoned [in Eritrea] on account of their non-violent opinions, beliefs and criticisms of the government."
Visit the ICFTU website to read the press release.
Resources:
http://www.cpj.org/news/2005/Eritrea16sept05na.html
http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991222835&Language=EN
http://www.cpj.org/attacks04/africa04/eritrea.html
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR640032004?open&of=ENG-ERI
