Olympian and Other Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Trial, Relatives Say
A group of thirteen people detained for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military detention facility, according to family members of the detainees.
Those released were several well-known individuals, such as elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, known for its harsh conditions and where many detainees are believed to be political prisoners.
Details of the Arrest
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a senior internal security officer in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, according to the source. Some have been freed over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its cyclists have steadily gained global acclaim in recent years.
List of Released
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a surveyor.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were also freed.
The Eritrean government has remained silent concerning the releases.
Many of them are in poor health and this could explain why they have been freed at this time.
Families were not allowed to see the prisoners during their detention, the family members said.
Global Condemnation and Prison Conditions
United Nations bodies and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including torture, forced disappearance and the detention of many thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, according to reports.
Background on Government Control
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarized countries, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been no free press since the shutdown of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president implement the proposed constitution and conduct democratic polls.
According to rights groups, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Aged 79, the president marked 32 years in office and has still never faced an election.
