INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS - Press Release

IFJ Express Worries about the Situation of Journalists held incommunicado in Eritrea
08 May 2006
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today express deep concern in relation to the persistence of the reign of terror, slammed on the independent press, by the regime in Eritrea. Fifteen journalists are currently held in Eritrea without trial for almost 5 years in secret detention centres, while all the private press houses have been forced to close down."We don’t have any information concerning these journalists and we don’t have any information saying that their families or organizations could visit them" revealed a source in Eritrea to the IFJ.In September 2001, opposition leaders advocated for democratic reform, which were widely carried by the press. Following these reports, about ten journalists were arrested along with some opposition leaders. The Eritrean government in an official statement, “labelled” the journalists for being "traitors working for the enemy" and a threat to national security. Since then, only the Swedish-Eritrean, Dawit Isaac was heard about, thanks to a release which lasted only two days in November 2005, so that he can receive some treatment. The other journalists held could not communicate neither with their families nor with their lawyers, and there is no information specifying their places of detention or their health conditions. This is also the case of five other journalists arrested before the wave of repressions in 2001, some of whom according to official sources are "carrying out their military service"."Eritrea is the only country in the world where there is no independent media and foreign correspondents. This extreme violation of the right to freedom of expression has continued unabated since 2001, without any sign of a positive change by the Eritrean Government. “The continued black out on the situation of the held journalists, worries us seriously», declared Gabriel Baglo, the Director of the Africa Office of the IFJ. “We urge the African Union to hold discussions with President Isaias Afwerki to release all the illegally detained journalists unconditionally and without any further delay and to restore the freedom of the press” added Mr. Baglo. For further information contact the IFJ: +221 842 01 43The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESSOH Honoré
Safety and Information Officer I
nternational Federation of Journalists -
Africa Office17, Boulevard de la Republique, Dakar - SénégalTel : + 221 842 01 42 Fax : +221 842 02 69Email : ifjafrique@sentoo.sn / fijafrica@sentoo.snUrl : www.ifj.org