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Four More Journalists, Businessman Arrested |
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By Awate.com Asmara, Eritrea -
Feb 24, 2002
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The government of Eritrea has intensified the wave of arrests without charge. Awate.com has confirmed the detention of at least four reporters and an influential citizen.
Mr. Hamid Mohamed Said, 39, a veteran international news and sports correspondent who joined ERI-TV in 1992, was one of the detained. Also arrested was another TV reporter, Saidia, one of the youngest reporters for Eritreas only TV station. Additionally, Mr. Saleh Aljezaeeri, a reporter for the government radio, Voice of the Broad Masses and the government paper, Hadas , was picked up by security officers several weeks ago. The three reporters were assigned to the Arabic section of the government media.
Awate.com has confirmed the story of the arrest of yet another journalist, Mr. Aaron Berhane, 35, a reporter for the now banned private newspaper, Setit. Mr. Aaron Berhane, a former Fitewrari, (young enlistee) joined the liberation front in 1978 when his father, Qeshi Berhane, escaping arrest from Ethiopias Mengistu Hailemariam regime, fled with his family to the safety of the EPLF, now the ruling party. Mr. Aaron Berhane had served as a teacher in the Tekombia (West Eritrea) area until Eritreas independence in 1991. After graduating from the University of Asmara, he, along with three other veterans of the liberation war, founded Setit newspaper. In the recent war with Ethiopia, Mr. Aaron Berhane served in the Adi Qeyih (South Eritrea) front as its military spokesman. At the end of the war, he was discharged and resumed his journalistic duties at Setit. Mr. Aaron Berhane has two young children, now being raised by his wife, Mele'te, who is also a former Fitewrari .
Awate.com has also learned that Mr. Suleiman Musa Haj, an influential resident and businessman in Keren (Central Eritrea), has been jailed by security agents for refusing to co-operate with a government officials demand to publicly endorse its call that the treacherous G-15 should be tried for treason. After rebuffing the officials demand by saying that he knows nothing about their case, Mr. Suleiman Musa Haj, a former member of the Eritrean Liberation Fronts leadership, is reported to have raised a taboo issue: inquiring the whereabouts of about a dozen teachers of Bejuk School who have been arrested by the government, without charge, since 1994. |
