Olympian and Other Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Facing Charges, Relatives Report
A group of thirteen people held for more than 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a infamous military prison, according to family members of the prisoners.
Those released were a number of well-known individuals, such as 69-year-old Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa prison, renowned for its harsh conditions and where many detainees are believed to be detained for political reasons.
Details of the Detention
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a high-ranking state security official in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, per the source. A number have been released in the intervening period, but roughly two dozen stayed imprisoned.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have steadily gained international recognition in recent years.
List of Released
The individuals freed with Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were released as well.
The Eritrean government has made no official comment concerning the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been freed at this time.
Relatives were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their detention, the relatives said.
International Condemnation and Prison Conditions
United Nations bodies and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including ill-treatment, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated.
Background on Government Control
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is among the world's 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 editors and journalists in 2001.
This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the head of state implement the proposed constitution and hold open elections.
According to rights groups, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Now 79 years old, the leader recently passed 32 years in power and has still never faced an electoral contest.
