Eritrea among top parliamentarian rights violating countries –IPU
April 22, 2008 (JOHANNESBURG) — The committee on human rights of the Inter-Parlimentary Union (IPU) says Eritrea is Among 35, countries world wide with worst record of violations on the rights of parliamentarians.
“11 parliamentarians in Eritrea have been detained since 18 September 2001, detained on various charges” president of IPU committee on the human rights parliamentarians Sharon Carstairs said
According to Bua news online, The IPU has hold a week long meeting in Cape Town last week
During its 118th assembly last week it has held 21 hearings on the human rights of parliamentarians.
The African Union commission on human rights in November 2003 cited Eritrea in Violation of human and political rights and ordered the Red sea nation for an immediate release and compensation to the 11 parliament members.
The whereabouts and conditions of the 11 Eritrean parliamentarians remains secret says president of the IPU committee.
“The 11 parliamentarians however remain incommunicado some where in Eritrea, in prison incommunicado, no contact whatsoever and that was five years ago,” she said.
Currently there are 35 countries where the IPU’s human rights committee is dealing involving 290 parliamentarians.
IPU human rights committee strongly believes that rights of an elected parliamentarian must be respected as it impacts on the entire country.
“If the rights of an elected parliamentarian are not respected this doesn’t bode well for the ordinary citizens of those countries” she added.
(ST)