Olympian and Other Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Trial, Family Members Report
A group of thirteen people detained for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been released from a notorious military prison, as stated by relatives of the detainees.
Those released were several well-known individuals, including 69-year-old Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, known for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are believed to be political prisoners.
Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest
An unnamed source who was once detained 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 initially detained, according to the source. A number have been freed in the intervening period, but about 20 stayed imprisoned.
Profile of an Athlete
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted cycling culture and its riders have increasingly earned international recognition over the past decade.
Those Among the Freed
The individuals freed with Zeragaber include notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a geometrist.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were also freed.
The Eritrean government has remained silent concerning the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been released at this time.
Families were not allowed to see the prisoners during their incarceration, the relatives said.
Global Criticism and Prison Conditions
United Nations bodies and rights organizations 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 facility, situated about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Context of Political Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarised societies, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been no free press since the closure of private publications and arrest of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the head of state implement the draft 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 leader recently passed 32 years in power and has still never faced an electoral contest.
