Olympic Athlete and Other Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Say
A group of thirteen people detained for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military detention facility, as stated by family members of the prisoners.
Those released were a number of prominent figures, such as 69-year-old Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many detainees are believed to be detained for political reasons.
Details of the Arrest
A source who was once detained in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an attempted assassination on a high-ranking internal security officer in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, according to the source. Some have been freed in the intervening period, but about 20 remained in custody.
The Story of an Athlete
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong cycling culture and its cyclists have steadily gained international recognition in recent years.
List of Freed
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.
Six senior police officers and an internal security agent were also freed.
The Eritrean government has remained silent concerning the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this may be the reason why they have been released now.
Families were prohibited to visit the prisoners during their detention, the relatives said.
International Condemnation and Prison Conditions
The UN and human rights groups have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated.
Background on Political Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been no free press since the shutdown of private publications 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 head of state put into effect the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls.
Per rights groups, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Now 79 years old, the leader marked 32 years in office and has yet to participate in an election.
