- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the ruling of the African Commission on Human Rights, claiming the Commission had "committed mistakes" when handling the case. The African Commission had ruled that the Eritrean government was violating several human rights of the Asmara-11, a group of 11 political prisoners held detained without any court ruling since September 2001.
The African Commission earlier this month released its landmark "verdict" in the Asmara-11 human rights case against the Eritrean government, initiated by Mussie Ephrem, a Swedish citizen of Eritrean descent. The Commission found the Eritrean government to be in violation of the African Charter on four accounts, including in restricting "the 11 persons' right to free expression."
While the Eritrean government was seen to hold a low profile during the proceedings of the case - most government communications were only given orally - Asmara now has edited a comprehensive defence letter, sent to the Commission and diffused as a press release.
The Asmara Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular had reacted to the fact that the Commission's ruling had reached international media. According to Asmara, "the Commission has with malicious intent disseminated its decision to the public," which was seen as a violation of the African Charter.
The strongest objection by the Eritrean government was however that the ruling was said to be "factually unfounded." While the Asmara-11 - a group of former high ruling party officials demanding democratic reforms - were observed to be political dissidents by the Commission, the Eritrean government says they are indeed detained "for conspiring and attempting to overthrow the legal government of the country."
According to the Eritrean Foreign Ministry, the Asmara-11 further are being kept detained "for colluding with hostile foreign powers with a view to compromising the sovereignty of the country; for undermining Eritrean national security and endangering Eritrean society and the general welfare of its people." This conspiracy, in addition, was made while Eritrea was at war with Ethiopia, the communiqué says.
It was further a mistake to claim that Eritrea was violating the human rights of the Asmara-11 due to their prolonged incommunicado detention without any court order. "Delay exists in other places and taking the war situation in Eritrea such a decision is unwarranted," the Ministry says. The African Commission was not "understanding the severity and graveness of the matter," Asmara says.
The government statement also lists several alleged procedural "mistakes" committed by the Commission. Eritrea had just been given a "biased and unfair treatment by the Commission."
Also completely new "evidence" was presented in the letter. The Eritrean government alleges that "the Complainant, Mussie Ephrem, is himself implicated in the conspiracy to overthrow the government as an active member of a small affiliated group that worked, and is still working, as the foreign wing of those who plotted against the state of Eritrea." Mr Ephrem was also receiving foreign funds to "support the internal conspiracy against the government."
Mr Ephrem - a Political Secretary of Sweden's Left Party and candidate for a seat in the European Parliament - told afrol News that the Eritrean government allegations against him were "unfounded". His only personal objective was to have "the regime convicted for the fundamental human rights violation by the African Commission."
The Swedish-Eritrean politician adds that the Eritrean government now "has no other choice than complying with the decisions made" by the Commission and start respecting international human rights conventions. "If the regime continues to defy multilateral treaties, it will inevitably lead the country to be isolated even from the African cooperation," concludes Mr Ephrem.
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