Olympian and Other Eritreans Freed After 18 Years Without Facing Charges, Relatives Say
A group of thirteen people held 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.
Among those freed were a number of prominent figures, including elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons.
Details of the Arrest
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a senior internal security officer in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, per the source. A number have been freed over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong cycling culture and its riders have increasingly earned international recognition in recent years.
List of Released
Those released alongside Zeragaber include notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were also freed.
The Eritrean government has made no official comment concerning the releases of the detainees.
Many of them are sick and this could explain why they have been released at this time.
Relatives were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their incarceration, the relatives reported.
International Criticism and Prison Conditions
United Nations bodies and rights organizations have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of serious abuses, including torture, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, according to reports.
Context of Government Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has continued to be a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is one of the 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 known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the head of state implement the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls.
According to advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Now 79 years old, the leader marked 32 years in office and has still never faced an electoral contest.