THE SUFFERING OF ERITREAN DETAINEES IN LIBYA CONTINUES

 

The Libyan authorities have released most of the detainees of Misrata and other detention centres into the streets of different cities. This may sound like good news but they have nothing with which to survive. They have no money, no food, no employment, no shelter, no medical treatment, nothing. Many are suffering the ill-effects of beatings, starvation, torture, dehydration and the like. These remain untreated.

They have been issued with a permit valid for three months only which allows them to reside in these unfamiliar streets with no residence. What will happen after three months? Their details are on file. They can still be deported. In the meantime, how do they survive? They have no means of transport. Those who had some money hired taxis to take them to Tripoli or Misrata, from Sebha town, but upon arrival at the checkpoint between towns they were turned back. In fact, their cards only permit them to live in Sebha where there is no one to help them now or in three months when these permits expire.

Forms have been made up by the Libyan authorities which falsely claim that the person named and whose photograph is upon it has been well-treated during their enforced stay in the Libyan detention centres. This self-serving form of deceit is more mockery of human rights designed to confuse the international community but any medical or cursory, examination of a formal detainee populous a different story.

The international community, however, is not clean of crimes against humanity. Italy, for examples, in 2009 sent back about 250 Eritreans to Libya knowing that they would be tortured.

So the suffering continues albeit in a different local, for these Eritreans doomed to wonder from one hell-hole to another, with no organisation providing any kind of support. The Libyan authorities have disposed of these Eritreans as if they were so much waste. What are they going to do?

HRCE appeals to the international community, Eritreans in diaspora, and all concerned individuals to continue campaigning for the rights of these mistreated Eritreans who should be protected by a country which is a signatory to the African Refugee Convention. Libya cannot shirk its responsibility by producing fake documentation, but good treatment while denying basic necessities such as food, shelters and clothing, medical treatment and protection to these refugees.

Human Rights Concern –Eritrea

London, U.K

17 July 2010

www.hrc-eritrea.org