Olympic Athlete and Other Eritreans Released After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Say
A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a infamous military prison, as stated by relatives of the detainees.
Among those freed were a number of prominent figures, 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 considered political prisoners.
Details of the Arrest
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an assassination attempt on a senior internal security officer in the government.
Around 30 people were initially detained, per the source. Some have been freed over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned global acclaim in recent years.
List of Freed
Those released alongside Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were released as well.
The Eritrean government has remained silent regarding the releases.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this may be the reason why they have been freed at this time.
Relatives were prohibited to see the prisoners during their incarceration, the family members reported.
Global Condemnation and Detention Environment
The UN and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearances and the detention of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Background on Government Rule
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been no free press since the shutdown of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their editors and journalists in 2001.
This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the president implement the draft 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, remain unknown.
Aged 79, the president recently passed 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an electoral contest.