Press watchdog urges Eritrea to free journalists

Sept 16, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — An international press freedom watchdog on Saturday urged Eritrea to free 13 journalists who have been held “incommunicado” in secret jails for the past five years without trial.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also denounced Asmara’s continued detention of the journalists, seized in a 2001 government crackdown on the opposition and private media, and its hampering of information on their whereabouts.

“Not only is the government continuing to hold these prisoners without charge or trial, it is withholding even the most basic information about them, including whether they are still alive,” said CPJ chief Joel Simon in a statement on Saturday.

“Eritrea’s blatant disregard for human rights and due process makes it the worst jailer of journalists in Africa.”

The watchdog also disputed a government explanation that the journalists were detained because they had threatened national security and had failed to observe licensing requirements.

“CPJ research indicates that they were targeted as part of a drive to suppress political dissent ahead of scheduled elections, which the government subsequently cancelled without explanation,” read the statement.

The Horn of Africa nation is the world’s fourth leading jailer of journalists after China, Cuba and Ethiopia with 15 journalists behind bars or gagged, according to the CPJ.

(ST/AFP)