Olympian and Several Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Trial, Relatives Say
A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a infamous military prison, as stated by relatives of the detainees.
Among those freed were several prominent figures, including 69-year-old Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa detention center, renowned for its harsh conditions and where many detainees are believed to be political prisoners.
Details of the Arrest
A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a high-ranking internal security officer in the government.
Around 30 people were initially detained, per the source. Some have been freed in the intervening period, but about 20 remained in custody.
Profile of an Athlete
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong cycling culture and its riders have steadily gained international recognition in recent years.
Those Among the Freed
Those released alongside Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were also freed.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement concerning the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are in poor health and this may be the reason why they have been freed at this time.
Families were not allowed to see the prisoners during their incarceration, the family members reported.
Global Criticism and Prison Conditions
United Nations bodies and rights organizations have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, encompassing torture, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has grown over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Background on Government Rule
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been an absence of independent media since the closure of private publications and arrest of most of their staff in 2001.
This occurred after the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president implement the proposed constitution and hold open elections.
Per rights groups, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Aged 79, the leader marked 32 years in office and has still never faced an electoral contest.