Prison “incidents” in Asmara after arrest of military service escapees

ASMARA, Nov 7 (AFP) — The Eritrean government denied on Sunday reports that many people had been killed early Sunday at a prison where people who have avoided military service are detained.

“I can’t say there were no incidents, but to say that some 20 people had died is totally exaggerated,” Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu told AFP by telephone in Asmara on Sunday.

Earlier on Sunday, a high-ranking diplomat, who asked not to be named, told AFP: “I spoke to a direct witness, who told me 25 people were killed by guards during a prison riot” at Adi Abieto jail near Asmara.

An Eritrean opposition website asmarino.com had earlier reported that “guards had started the shooting, killing over 20 detainees.”

“It is natural to have some kind of incident because some of the detainees were gangsters. I don’t have the details of the operation,” Ali Abdu said.

The roundup on Thursday was aimed at catching “gangsters” in order “to preserve security” in Eritrea, “we found gangsters” who were imprisoned, he added, stressing that it is a “national security affair and it is not other people or diplomats’ business.”

Eritrean authorities are conducting roundups to “target the very few” who have not done their military service, Ali Abdu told AFP on Thursday, but added on Sunday that the aim was also to find “gangsters”.

In Eritrea, “we have a very low crime rate” and “we want to preserve security” in the country, he said.

Several young Eritreans, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Thursday: “These roundups started in 1998. They were severe during the war. Since 2002, they had been declining, but right now they’re increasing. Soldiers go into offices, houses, stop cars, taxis, buses, and ask for identity cards.” Eritrean authorities are rounding up people who have avoided military service,