NEWS RELEASE

Thursday, June 3, 1999

ASMARA IMPOSES HARSH RESIDENCE DEMANDS ON ETHIOPIANS

The Eritrean regime has issued a new circular imposing a strict residence decree on Ethiopians living in Eritrea, according to the Ethiopian Embassy in Asmara.

According to the new decree, every Ethiopian above the age of 15 has to obtain a one-year residence permit and every member of the family must pay 200 Nafka for registration during the period May 18-31, 1999. The new decree states that any Ethiopian not bearing the new permit card may not obtain any services from public institutions.

According the new decree, all previous ID cards issued to Ethiopians by the various bodies of the Ethiopian government as well as by the Ethiopian Embassy in Asmara will be invalid after May 30, 1999. This will create problems for the remaining Ethiopians who do not have access to job opportunities in Eritrea due to the government prohibitions and those who are poor or who have large families, since every Ethiopian above the age of 15 is required to make payments.

It could also open up access for excessive abuse by the Eritrean authorities against Ethiopians. This new decree could serve as a new tactic for deporting more Ethiopians.

On the contrary, it should be noted that there are half a million Eritreans living peacefully in Ethiopia peacefully without any special requirements whatsoever.