Egypt, 118 Eritrean refugees forced under torture to sign repatriation documents
Thursday, November 3, 2011, by EveryOne Group Aswan, November 3, 2011. A humanitarian activist called us this morning from a detention centre in Aswan (Egypt) which is run by the local police force under the authority
Thursday, November 3, 2011, by EveryOne Group
Aswan, November 3, 2011. A humanitarian activist called us this morning from a detention centre in Aswan (Egypt) which is run by the local police force under the authority of the Minister of the Interior.
There are currently about 300 Eritrean refugees being held in the Aswan prison in appalling sanitary conditions and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. Most of the refugees have come from the prison camps run by traffickers in northern Sinai, where they have been subjected to torture, beatings and rape.
These refugees are also witnesses of the murders, extortion and atrocities perpetrated by the traffickers against their fellow countrymen. This morning 118 young Catholic Eritrean men were summoned by the prison guards one by one, and asked to sign documents in which they agreed to voluntary repatriation. When the refugees refused, explaining that they would be persecuted in Eritrea – and in many cases murdered – the guards subjected them to torture and beatings, and forced them to sign the papers. The Muslim Eritreans did not suffer the same treatment. The young people who signed the papers are now awaiting deportation. EveryOne Group, the Ngo Gandhi and the network of international organizations for the rights of sub-Saharan refugees have sent an urgent appeal to the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Egypt and Egyptian embassies to ensure that those responsible for the torture and beatings of the 118 refugees are punished according to the law, and the Eritrean prisoners are offered international protection, as laid out by the Geneva Convention on Refugees.
EveryOne Group, the Ngo Gandhi and the network of NGOs for the rights of refugees have also launched an urgent appeal to the Secretary General of the United Nations, the High Commissioner for Refugees, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, the European Union Commissioner for Human Rights and the international agencies that protect the rights of refugees, to use all their political, legal and humanitarian powers to put a stop to the killing, torture, beatings, unfair detentions and deportations of Eritrean and sub-Saharan refugees.
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Zekhtam Eritrawi November 3, 2011
I.
The gruesome headlines keep popping up where they read in a time line: “Three hundred and fifty Eritreans drowned in the Mediterranean sea as they tried to make it to the nearest Island”; “A mass grave of Africans mostly Eritreans have been found in the Sinai desert where organs are removed from the bodies including eyes and ears”; “There are currently three hundred Eritrean refugees being held in the Aswan prison where one hundred and eighty of them are being deported to Eritrea.” After you’ve finished either skimming over the lines or read it with intensity, I urge you to pose for a second or so and challenge yourself if the figures are talking about real people or just characters on the screen. I kid you not.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 3, 2011
II.
We could as well be desensitized after we’ve seen more of similar news items, but there sure be a room left in us that tells us that, these are not only human beings, but they are as well our brothers, sisters, and children. What is happening to us? When is this unimaginable national calamity going to end? When are the newspapers or computer screens going to stop printing anything gruesome related to our people? My people (supporters and opponents of the regime alike), I am appealing to your conscience to do the right thing, to stand up for the weak and meek for we have everything to gain and save lives and if we fail to heed the calling of our dire times, history will hold us accountable here on Earth and in the Kingdom to come as well. I still believe in the ever prevailing Eritrean can-do mind set. We will prevail.
Kozami November 3, 2011
Zekhtam Eritrawi
I have a riddle for you. Which is worse in a situation where a man is killed in a violent encounter and the local people who come across the dead individual actually take the garments of the dead individual, sell it to the highest bidder and leave the body behind for the hyenas to devour. The killer or the local people? You know such dangerous trek the west is taken by all of the sub-Sahara nationalities. You know there are far wider reasons for doing so and it is monumentally difficult for a nation under incessant attack to curb. Yet all you seem to care about is the political cash value of those victims and nothing else. I think you should “pose for a second or so and challenge yourself if the figures are talking about real people or just characters on the screen” You have many avenues to credibly criticize the GoE, yet your inability to see beyond PFDJ has hopelessly crippled your moral obligations.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 3, 2011
Kosami,
Your riddle sure got me thinking where the analogy seems to be misplaced however. Let me blubber for a second. With in the jargon of psychology, there is something called, “Free Association” where the subject is made to say anything that comes to his or her mind and the shrink would get a clue of the suppressed mind as the subject utters a word which happens to be different from the said words. You’ve finally admitted that, the regime in Eritrea is unable to curb (a measured word on your part) the youth-exodus. I sure commend you for that for it is a significant step. Having said that however, I am still struggling to see the otherwise phantom enemies where you seem to insinuate as if Eritrea is under a constant attack. If you’re confusing the impending UN sanctions with an attack, I sure don’t have to remind you that, that is the consequence of where a pariah and recalcitrant leader is expected to pay for his brazen neglect of an international law. I sure say this with sadness as you try to spin the issue at hand instead of reflecting on the plight of our people whose hearts are desperate as they are about to be deported to the unknown.
Kozami November 3, 2011
Zekhtam Eritrawi
Eritrea is sure enough unable to curb this transnational phenomenon as things stand. The widening gap between the rich west and the marginalized peoples of third world, the heavy sided supply and demand equation of legal migration (heavy on supply) where the decision makers are across the ocean, the global under world of human trafficking, and individual discontent about one’s comparative standard of living are but few of the factors involved. It would be great if you propose how you intend to curb the phenomenon through ‘regime change’ Your ‘phantom’ take on Eritrea’s enemies, FYI Eritrea has endured military aggression, followed by attempted subversion of its government, followed by incessant media vilification, followed by illegally orchestrated sanctions and so forth. There is no confusion about the UN sanctions, it is an ATTACK. It is credit to the Eritrean masses for holding steadfast in the face of such an adversity, but then again the alternative has always been nothing short of an abyss.
Cicero-Paradiso November 3, 2011
What is happening to Eritreans in the Arab world? These is coming from the Arab regimes in Sudan and Egypt and the Arab Bedouins?
Is this Just happening in the Arab world only or everywhere? Is this happening in Ethiopia or Zambia?
No! so why only in the Arab world to Eritreans?
If this is true, may God the almighty send the tormentors of the innocent Eritreans all his mighty force.
Oh Eritrea! Oh poor Eritrea!
what a curse has fallen on you?
What a curse?
Cicero-Paradiso November 3, 2011
Thank you Barentu for the info provided below I never thought it was this big.
There is a lot of information about Middle East’s largest human organ trafficking center which happens to be Egypt. I will post it for the blinds and cowards to see. There is even draft legislation made by Egypt’s parliament.
Do not expect the Egyptian regime to do a full investigation about poor African refugees who are often seen and treated as slaves in the Arab world. Some of the following quotes were made by Egypt’s Ministry of Health:
“Most of those seeking organs on the black market are Arabs from the region, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Health. They connect with traffickers who, in turn, source donors from among Egypt’s poorest citizens.
“The Ministry first caught wind of the problem in 2006 when a small number of cases were reported to the authorities. The ministry, working with the country’s security forces, launched a series of raids on suspected clinics and made a number of arrests. …
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 3, 2011
Kozami,
I.
Am I reading you right? Transitional phenomenon? Does it appear to you as some sort of a natural disaster? Eritrea is being hemorrhaged of her productive segment of the society. For a cool headed policy maker, it is a classic national security threat for the productive segment of a society are the custodians of the very pillars of a society and posterity as well. But of course, priorities with in the PFDJ world are consolidating power at any cost. It is pretty impressive as you try to pull classical economics where demand and supply gives you an appellation of an erudite. However, one would be tempted to take you for a freshman a day after an economics class simply because, you seem to be throwing “demand and supply” randomly. I am still struggling to make sense of your otherwise rumble.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 3, 2011
II.
Again, am I reading you right? You said, “FYI, Eritrea has endured military aggression, followed by subversion and incessant media vilification”. You can’t possibly be serious!!! I am sure you’re not too old for a senile. Isn’t it a simple fact that Isaias was found guilty of invading nations in the region left and right as if there is no tomorrow? Isn’t it a simple fact that, erstwhile high ranking government personnel languishing in jail where they are accused of subversion but their case is a sham at best? Need I say more? I was going to end here but I am at a loss when you ended your otherwise neither here nor there reply with the word “abyss”. Abyss of what? It is perfectly normal to say, I don’t know instead of throwing irrelevant words at random.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 3, 2011
Kozami,
I guess I read you wrong. I took “Trans-national” for “Transitional”. My apologies.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 3, 2011
Please read “their case” as “the allegation”.
Shewit November 3, 2011
Zekhtam Eritrawi,
Y’ know, I gave up sometime ago trying to dialogue to the kinds of Kozami, Tsehaye Abdi and the likes. They have no soul. It’s dead. No matter amount of evidence will bring back their dead soul from the deeply dark side of humanity, which it has sunk in. Their hate and jealousy of the west, Ethiopia and anyone, who appears to be normally functioning human being overwhelms any other human felling, one could have found in a normal person. As you read their postings here, they justify and carry water for PFDJ, even in the face of the pictures and videos, which we have seen for the last few days. For them, young Eritreans, whose organs are harvested, and their remains thrown in a desert like a dog is absolutely nothing in contrast with the love that they have for Isayas Afeworki. I just would like to say in the words of my fellow Eritreans, who perished in the Sinai, “This will pass”. In deed, it will. After it’s passed, the varmints like kozami and his band change their color quickly and start shedding their crocodile tears. Since they have no soul they also lack shame and dignity. Therefore my brother, don’t pull yourself down to their really low level of humanity, by responding and speaking to these human waste, filthy animals.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 3, 2011
Shewit,
It is just a matter of time ’till they switch sides as Isaias gets closer to meeting the same fate as Gaddafi. As they say, old habits die hard. It wouldn’t be too surprising if you dig into their “cold-case” profile where you find a macabre of allegiance to the Dergue regime where they had to switch sides when the latter was about to pack up and flee the country.
Kozami November 3, 2011
what a funny old world! You accuse others to “lack shame and dignity” And with the same breath call them “human waste, filthy animals” You sure have long way to go in learning to control yourself, but it leaves much to be desired from those cool headed commentators as zekhtam ertrawi, when they decide to overlook your contribution in creating a cyber sewer of repugnant pungent.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 4, 2011
Kozami,
When it is understandable as TV-Eri passes in a complete silence the death of Gaddafi (Isaias’ patron-saint), it is rather spooky when the sole news outlet hardly mentions the horrendous ordeal Eritreans going through as they try to traverse the hostile trains and plains of Sinai. If anything, it is a national tragedy. As such, it was supposed to bring us together (supporters and opponents alike) but instead you resorted into accusing us of making the high time of politics out of it. When we are justified as we point our fingers on Isaias as we desperately try to seek the root cause of their ordeal, you jumped on defending Isaias tacitly or explicitly instead of giving a priority to their plight as they still are not yet finished being preys of evil spirits manifested in a human flesh. Your conscience is still hanging in the balance where you’re to make a call either to keep a blind eye or rise to the occasion and reach out to your people when they are calling out from the pit holes of darkness. It is a finest hour either to be a giant or to live in obscurity and absurdity shrouded in an utter shame and disgrace.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 4, 2011
Terrain instead.
Eritrawit November 4, 2011
Kozami .
Shewit said it all u r excuse for Eritran. maybe you r not who knows?
and please use simple English.
Repungent, Repugnant and Pungent :
“Repungent” is an amusing mash-up of “repugnant” (disgusting) and “pungent”
It is used for repulsive smells; and though it is vivid, it’s not standard English and may get you laughed at.
Kozami November 4, 2011
repungent?…did that come from me? Sorry, I re-read my response and couldn’t read me saying that!!
kozami November 4, 2011
Zekhtam Eritreawi
Part I
Your statement that “…it was supposed to bring us together (supporters and opponents alike)” is hallow at best and meant to swindle the moral high ground that otherwise, would prove a REAL HARD WORK to attain. Let me get this, you want both supporters and opponents to come together, to overthrow the GoE…and then? And this somehow would change the fate of the people in “the pit holes of darkness” (…what is that supposed to mean anyway?) It would stop illegal migration, it would stop human trafficking, it would compel western countries to give entry visa like there is no tomorrow, yea…just overthrow PIA and all will be dandy, I hear you say.
kozami November 4, 2011
Zekhtam Eritreawi
Part II
Well, on the sane side of things however, “supporters/opponents” coming together does not mean one of them working in service of the other. It means both working to a common goal, regardless of their political view points. Such as organizing a march, calling local politicians on behalf of those victims, raising funds, holding candle lit vigil … and so forth. However, as I charged earlier, the approach from your quarters is all about the “political cash value” or cashing in the misery of others to advance your personal political agenda. You still could not see outside PFDJ that has become your alpha and omega of Eritrean issues. You can not cajole, coarse or box in others to agree with you. Accepting differences is okay. Standing for your stated principles is called integrity. Eritrean’s have seen so much and gone through a lot to fall for cheap razzmatazz from the master speculator Meles Zenawi and his band of sub-contracted speculators ala Eritrean opposition.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 4, 2011
Kozami,
Cynicism can not serve any purpose where it seems a psychological block in your extended effort to get things right. When I said, we (supporters and opponents of the regime) need to transcend our differences, what I had and still have in mind is to rise to the occasion as the circumstances of our brothers and sisters can not be any dire than it is. If I could ease your otherwise tensed up psych, I don’t mean we need to come together in a bid to topple Isaias, rather, we need to come together to help our people who are crying out in agony in the deserts of Sinai. There is no need for a further psychoanalysis (on a Freudian coach) to figure out the cause that is inciting the young people to leave the country in droves. The Western nations do not have any reason to push the young people out of their beloved country when the Western nations in a sharp contrast to your assertion (tacitly) are blocking the perpetual influx of immigrants to their respective countries. In fact, if I have to digress for a bit, one of the major political platforms in Western Europe where right wing political proclivities seem to win with leaps and bounds is simply because their agenda appeals to the xenophobia of the people where immigrants are taken for the major cause of economic and social ailments.
Kozami November 4, 2011
Zekhtam Eritrawi,
Given your response above and an article that was posted by the webmaster of this site earlier today, I want to go on record stating that, despite my total rejection of the anti-GoE rhetoric that seem to clutter the said pronouncements, every Eritrean (myself included) must do what they can to rescue the victims or at least play a part in alleviating the the tragedy. IMHO there should be a dedicated website be setup as a coordination center, relevant petitions, contacts, funds raising activities, communication and updates be all be carried out from that site. Any form of political solicitation be barred and contributions made and actions taken by individuals be publicized through the website on real time bases. High level peoples delegation be funded by us to go and meet the concerned authorities in person. And everything be on the move with the speed of light. The owner of this website had raised some key points to be done, but he needs to spare us his political ranting.
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 4, 2011
Kozami,
I absolutely agree. I promise you this. If Isaias takes the initiative and works toward the rescue of our brothers and brings their plight and the gruesome situation to the attention of the Egyptian government so that the culprits could be brought to justice, he has my full support and I won’t shy away from calling him my President. As we supported him during the struggle for independence, we are always ready to support him given he listens to our concerns and aspiration. It is that simple. No one is holding grudges against him. It sure is human to err. And the Eritrean people, that is those of us who have differences in ideas are ready to have magnanimity to reign. When you describe the Eritrean reality as a growing-pains of a young nation, I seem to describe it the dying-pains of a young nation. The difference is deceptively clear and it is deceptively simple to amend it.
Maazza November 5, 2011
Zekhtam Eritrawi,
When you wrote ‘If Isaias takes the initiative and works toward the rescue of our brothers and brings their plight and the gruesome situation to the attention of the Egyptian government so that the culprits could be brought to justice, he has my full support and I won’t shy away from calling him my President. As we supported him during the struggle for independence, we are always ready to support him given he listens to our concerns and aspiration.’ I was most surprised! What this man has done from the days of the struggle up to now, which actions have affected the lives of so many in a very tragic manner is to be null and void. He can continue to be the self-imposed president for life he has made himself and we will all shout ‘Wedi Afom, Wedi Afom’. You are one of those I very much admire for the absolutely enlightening posts you give us but this affirmation has left me thinking that the Isayas ‘Bug’ is may be too powerful, more powerful than some of us believe.
For me, he has failed the Eritrean people, period.
tegadalay November 4, 2011
THIS IS TO ZEKHTAM ERITRAWI let ME askyou something there are 2 kind of ZEKHTAMAT in eritrea there are the ones their father & mother killid in the wor for their bloved country & people freedom the hero ones & there are ZEKHTAMAT that their father & mother are in ERAERO PRISON for trying to sellout their country so wich side are you can you tell me please
Zekhtam Eritrawi November 4, 2011
You might as well find your own pathetic league. And please don’t bother to reply.
amuca November 4, 2011
wey hatewtew kesab kendezi deyu seb awifu degefti behalti kabti zehizen nemen eyu eti mehelak, ezom ab sina, egypt, libya sudan zesakeyu zelewo bezuhat deki seweat kemzelewuwom tefeltu do, leali kulu kea kulom kab nebsi wekef eritreawit sedra zemetsu eyom. befelay nay ketsel semka tegadalay abi halay kebleka degimka eski anbebo zetsehafkayo kemzekemaka shekem yebehal abi shekem