My trip from Victoria, Canada was going really well as planed till we passed Detroit. There was heavy storm in NY and NJ area and we had to fly around until the weather cleared. Luckily our plane was about to land safely just before another storm hit the confines of New York City. Many panelist had to crumble to make it to NYC the night before because their flight were diverted. At that point, I started to wonder why is mother nature on the Dictator's side? But the amazing people at the US mission to UN would not let even a storm hinder their task. They worked very hard to get all the panelist in the discussion as planned.
On the morning of July 24th, the US mission to UN extended a breakfast invitation to all the panelists. There we had a chance to meet the US Ambassador to UN and discussed the political situation in Eritrea in general and the plight of Eritrean Prisoners of Conscience (POC). I also met the acting US Ambassador to UN and had a good discussion about Human Rights violations and Eritrean refugee issues. He said something that resonated with me after I tried to explain that Diaspora Eritreans are afraid to speak up because the government would confiscate their properties, refuse to offer them certain services or even harass their families back home. After hearing intently, he said “I don't remember exactly where I read this but it goes like this, “If people are not willing to give up their possessions for their freedom, soon they will lose not only their possession but also their freedom too;” The Assistant Deputy Secretary shared her concerns about Eritrean POC. Erika had visited Eritrea in the early 90s with then First Lady Clinton and shared her fond memories of how very energetic and patriotic the atmosphere was everywhere she went in Eritrea. In less than a decade, Eritrea lost all that and more because of the ruling regime.
I also had a chance to get to know all the panelist and we shared our personal stories and experiences. After some photo ops and a quick lunch, we all headed to the conference at the UN headquarters.
The panel discussion lasted for about two hours. The discussion went really well. The panelist from Burma, Belarus, Cuba, Eritrea, Syria and Uzbekistan told horror stories abut human right violations in their respective countries. I realized all dictators use almost the same tactics of intimidation and terror to silence any voice of dissent. The Panelist from Burma and Syria were themselves ex-POC, and shared their painful experience in prison. As sad as their stories was, I wished all Eritrean POC will one day be able to tell the world their experiences under the brutal regime in Eritrea.
After the discussion, the US ambassador to UN gave reporters a chance to ask questions. A Polish representative to UN gave us a positive feedback. He shared how his country’s struggle for justice and rule of law was crashed by the communist regime, and a decade later the Polish solidarity succeeded not only to get rid of the dictator in Poland, but also started a wave of revolutions against all the communist regimes in Eastern block. I also conducted a an interview with the UN radio.
Attending the Declaration of prisoners of conscience panel representing Eritrean POC was a very humbling experience. I would like to thank the staff at US mission to the UN for working really hard to make it happen. I would like to also thank Semere Habtemariam and Daniel Tewelde from EGS, Simone Mebrahtu from EMDHR and Saleh Gadi from Awate for all the support and encouragement.
Editor's Note: The following is the speech that Senait Yohannes gave at the event.
… I want to thank the United States Mission to the United Nations and the United States Department of State for inviting me to be part of a panel of speakers to commemorate the Declaration of Prisoners of Conscience.
I’m particularly proud to be among these people who have shown courage in speaking out against injustices and for their tireless efforts on behalf of prisoners of conscience in their respective countries.
I’m very pleased to be here to speak about the plight of the many Eritrean prisoners of conscience who are languishing in the dungeons of the regime in Asmara – particularly, on behalf of my sister, Aster Yohannes and her husband, Petros Solomon.
But I’m equally saddened to be here, I wish there was no reason for me to be in this position. After so many sacrifices for the independence of Eritrea - for freedom, justice and self-determination, our country should have been a place blessed with liberty, justice and rule of law that every citizen enjoyed. Unfortunately, it has become a big jail where people who contributed enormously for its liberation are now denied basic right – even a day in court or visitation rights. The tragedy that afflicts Eritrea is beyond anybody’s imagination.
My sister, Aster Yohannes was detained by security forces on December 11, 2003 from Asmara airport upon here return home to be with her children after three years of study in the USA. She has been detained in solitary confinement, and to-date she has not been allowed any visits from her children or family members. The Eritrean Government has not charged Aster with any crime nor have they provided any reason for her continous detention. Aster’s only crime is being the wife former Foreign Minister and Prisoner of Conscience Petros Solomon.
Since its independence in 1991, Eritrea is being ruled by an unelected party that has a complete monopoly of economic, political and social life in the country. The group known as the G15, of which Aster’s husband, Mr. Petros Solomon, was a member, challenged the ruling party and called for democratic reforms and demanded the implementation of the constitution that was ratified in 1997. By imprisoning G15, who included prominent leaders of Eritrea, the regime completely eradicated any meaningful voice of dissent inside the country. The regime is hostile to the idea of democracy and rule of law.
The regime has criminalized dissent in Eritrea; it has closed down all private media and imprisoned journalists. One of those journalists who have been laungushin in prison since September 2001 is Amanuel Asrat. Amanuel is a highschool schoolmate of mine. He was top of his school student. Amanuel fought for Eritrean independence and he is very gifted writer and journalist. No one knows his whereabouts for the last 7 years. With the exception of opposition voices outside the country, there is no one advocating for the rights of prisoners of conscience in Eritrea. It is imperative that the international community pressure the Eritrean government to abide by international norms. The voice of the international community is critically important in the case of Eritrea.
I appeal to the United Nations to apply pressure to the Eritrean regime to free all prisoners of conscience.
I also appeal to all UN Member States and Organization to take the following steps to assist political prisoners and their family members:
- To put diplomatic pressure to Eritrea to abide by international rules.
- To make aid funds conditional on the state of human rights in Eritrea.
- Adopt a travel ban against the top officials of the regime from traveling.
- Support Eritrean civic and media organizations that are fighting on behalf of prisoners of conscience, justice and democracy.
- Support legal programs to help families/victims of prosecution to pursue legal actions against the Eritrean regime.
- Find ways to assist families whose bread earners are jailed.
- There are many Eritreans that are risking their life to cross the boarder (cross the boarder is subject to death penalty- shooting squad) and seeking refugees in neighboring countries. These refugees are in dire need of assistance such as food, clothing and other basic necessities.
- Find way to give the youth in the refugee camps in Ethiopia and Sudan an opportunity to have a decent life through education, job training and resettlement programs.
The UN is the main organization that has a moral and legal obligation to address the plight of Eritrean prisoners. Eritrean prisoners of conscience, some of whom have been languishing in jail for more than a decade, must not be forgotten. I plead to the UN to use all available resources to help these voiceless prisoners.
Finally, I urge the UN to demand the Eritrean regime to allow the ICRC to visit the Prisoners of conscience in Eritrea and report on their general conditions and ascertain if they are still alive. Rumors are abound stating that some of the prisoners might be dead. With no visitation rights – or any sort of communication –the families of prisoners are living in a never-ending state of anxiety. Only the ICRC can determine the prisoners state.
1) Senait’s remarks at the Department of State Website: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/
2) IIP story on Senait’sr participation in the July 24 event:
http://www.america.gov/st/hr-english/2008/July/20080730110638ajesrom0.6414453.html
