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Justice Seekers demonstrate outside Eritrean Embassy in London
On the eve of the 14th anniversary of the illegal and unjust jailing of the G15 and journalists, justice Seekers demonstrated outside the Eritrean Embassy in London(with similar demonstration scheduled in other cities) to demand the release of the thousands of prisoners incarcerated in Isaias's network of prisons devoid of any humanity or due process.
This day is significant in many ways. It is certainly not the first time when people with views critical to the government in Eritrea were arrested. Furthermore it is mainly the day when the entire post-independence political process was officially arrested and any hope for the establishment of the rule of law was shelved. To the contrary, the ruling party has been arbitrarily arresting, detaining and torturing political dissidents since early nineties. While all previous violations were carried out in secret, the G15 were arrested in broad light and was meant to be the first step of a series of actions aimed at arresting the nascent reform movement that was gaining momentum among the wider population across Eritrea. While all other victims were either ordinary citizens, low profile members of the ruling party or leaders of other political organisations, or simply ordinary citizens suspected of political affiliation to parties other than the one in power, the G15 were high ranking governments officials, party leaders and army generals who all belong to the ruling party. They happened at a time when there appeared to be high hopes for the establishment of the rule of law and the democratisation of the country. The G15 were the leaders of the reform movement within the ruling party who put their lives at risk to save a country they fought to liberate.
We remember this day for its symbolism and because it was the turning point in many ways. It was the beginning of a dark period in post-independence Eritrea. This downward spiral that started on September 18, 2001 continues to this very date. Conditions in Eritrea are deteriorating at an even greater speed endangering the very existence of this young nation born out of so much sacrifice. The mass exodus of the post independence generation of Eritrea is a clear testimony of this reality.
A letter addressed to Isaias Afewerki calling for the immediate release of Eritrean Prisoners of Conscience was inserted through the embassy’s letterbox.
Letter to Isaias Afewerki
A call for Justice for all Eritrean Prisoners of Conscience in Eritrea
We, the family members of Eritrea's prisoners of conscience, demand the immediate release of our Eritrean Heroes.
We will not forget that our loved ones were taken away from their families in the early hours on 19 September 2001. These fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters who were prominent national leaders of the Eritrean struggle for independence were incarcerated for sticking out their necks against the direction the country was taking. Their act of defiance was consistent with the raison-de-entre of the liberation struggle they were committed to since their early youth, in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. The state our country us in now vindicates their worries and concerns.
After 14 years, there has been no response to the call for the release of these heroes and of those tens of thousands of compatriots who still remain incarcerated. Eye-witnesses testify inhumane treatment of prisoners, many of them held incommunicado for decades in tiny prison cells. There has not been any statement about their whereabouts, state of health or indeed if they are still alive. Some of their children are left orphaned in today's "independent" Eritrea leaving them to be looked after by their distraught and elderly grandparents. The effects of these injustices is not only felt by the prisoners’ their immediate families; but also by close relatives, friends and all justice seeking Eritreans.
Enough is Enough. Free all our prisoners immediately and unconditionally.