NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday, April 13, 1999

ETHIOPIANS ABDUCTED, TORTURED AND CONSCRIPTED INTO ERITREAN ARMY

Ethiopians residing in Eritrea have increasingly become the victims of arbitrary arrest, abduction and torture since the Eritrean military's humiliating defeat at Badme in late February.

Many of these Ethiopian nationals were abducted from their homes in the middle of the night and their whereabouts are unknown. Moreover, some abducted Ethiopians are being conscripted into the Eritrean military and are forced to participate in the ninth round of Sawa national service training.

In addition to the Ethiopians who have been ‘disappeared’ by the government in Asmara, many are known to be imprisoned. The parents of some individuals who were arrested following Ethiopia's successful Operation Sunset have been able to verify that their children are being held in Eritrean prisons. Those detained in prison are subjected to torture and often suffer permanent loss of limbs and other body parts.

Since Eritrea's defeat at Badme, the Ethiopian government has been able to document approximately 300 cases of detention and abuse, in addition to the numerous Ethiopian victims whose cases have gone undocumented. Ethiopia calls on the international community to condemn these gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Eritrean government before more Ethiopians become victims of arrest, torture and forced conscription.

The Government Spokesperson’s Office has compiled a list of those 26 Ethiopians who have been abducted and 12 Ethiopians who have been the victims of human rights abuses by Eritrea.