US want fair trial for detained Eritrean employees

Sept 20, 2005 (ASMARA) — The U.S. Embassy in Eritrean has called on the government to ensure two of its Eritrean employees are given a prompt and fair trial on allegations that they were involved in unspecified trafficking, a spokesman said Tuesday.

The government has publicly accused the two employees — Fitwi Ghezae of the public affairs section and Biniam Ghirmai of the management section — of trafficking but has not specified what kind of trafficking or charged them, said embassy spokesman George Colvin.

“We have been in touch with the government of Eritrea regarding these two detainees to make clear that they should be accorded prompt and fair due process concerning any such charges and that the proceedings should be transparent,” Colvin said.

Fitwi and Biniam were detained six weeks ago when authorities asked them to report to their local police station.

On Thursday, Information Minister Ali Abdou said that they had been involved in illegal activities but refused to discuss details.

In October 2001, police arrested two other Eritrean employees of the U.S. Embassy for unspecified reasons. Those two have yet to be charged or released.

Eritrea is one of only four African countries that openly supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq. But relations have shown signs of strain.

In July, Eritrea asked the U.S. Agency for International Development to stop its operations in the Horn of Africa country without giving any reason.

A delegation from the State Department and the aid agency went to Eritrea from Washington last month to discuss the issue. The results of those discussions have not been made public.

(AP/ST)