PRESS RELEASE
Terror
raised to a higher level in Eritrea,
Another
attack on the family
EHDR-UK,
22
July 2005
It
has recently been reported that the Eritrean regime has started detaining
parents in the Southern region of the country as part of a nationwide
campaign to penalize parents whose children have escaped from the
dictatorial rule of the regime. Hundreds have so far been detained in Zoba
Debub (formerly Seraye and Akele-Guzai provinces). This horrific action is
being followed by a demand for bail payments amounting to thousands of
Nakfa for their release.
The
regime knows very well that the youth are adults who are capable of
deciding for themselves. The
parents have lost their ownership long time ago.
But because the regime failed to stop the fleeing of the youth to
neighboring countries, it is trying to put the blame on the parents. What
a twisted logic! Sadly, there is no rule of law in Eritrea and the regime
has begun taking these desperate actions with impunity.
Recalling
its past history PFDJ may have many goals when it took this drastic
measures,
- It
wants to cover up for its failure of convincing the Eritrean youth to
serve in its ill-conceived Warsay-Yikalo campaign, which is widely
recognised as a campaign of slavery.
- To
go one step further in destroying the Eritrean family unit. So far the
PFDJ practically owns every child in Eritrea and the family unit has
been in the process of being dismantled.
- The
PFDJ is desperate for finance and will use any pretext to collect
money from the population,
The
regime seems to employ
harsher penalties on its innocent citizens and some of the detained
parents are already resisting the unreasonable demands from the
regime.
EHDR-UK
calls on the Eritrean authorities to stop this unlawful and barbaric act
and start respecting the very basic rights of its citizens and the values
and customs of Eritrean society.
We
also appeal to the Eritrean public to condemn these horrific atrocities
and join the campaign to challenge and expose the unacceptable behaviour
of the regime.
EHDR-UK
urges the international community to raise their voice and apply any
pressure on the Eritrean regime to stop its callous moves and remind it to
behave in an internationally accepted decency.
Board,
EHDR-UK
22
July 2005
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