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Olympian and Several Eritreans Freed After 18 Years Without Trial, Relatives Report
A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a infamous military prison, according to family members of the prisoners.
Those released were several prominent figures, such as 69-year-old Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be detained for political reasons.
Details of the Arrest
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a high-ranking internal security officer in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were initially detained, per the source. Some have been released in the intervening period, but roughly two dozen remained in custody.
The Story of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong tradition of cycling and its cyclists have steadily gained international recognition over the past decade.
Those Among the Released
Those released with Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.
Six senior police officers and an state security officer were released as well.
The Eritrean government has made no official comment concerning the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this may be the reason why they have been freed at this time.
Relatives were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their detention, the family members reported.
Global Condemnation and Detention Environment
United Nations bodies and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa facility, located about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has expanded over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Context of Government Control
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has continued to be a single-party nation with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarized countries, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been an absence of independent media since the shutdown of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the head of state implement the proposed constitution and conduct democratic polls.
According to rights groups, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Now 79 years old, the president marked 32 years in office and has still never faced an election.
Kim Ramirez
A passionate golfer and journalist with over a decade of experience covering PGA tours and equipment innovations.
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