1300 Eritrean soldiers fled to Ethiopia in 6 months

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

March 25, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — Some 1300 Eritrean soldiers have crossed the borders to Ethiopia over the past 6 months in protest to the massive oppression and ill-military policies they are facing at home, Administration of refugees and returnee Affairs disclosed.

Law and protection department head under the administration Haileslasie Gebremariam said “over 3000 Eritreans have fled to Ethiopia over the past 6 months in protest to the heavy –handed treatments of the government in Asmara.”

“Among the fled 1300 of them are Eritrean soldiers while the rest are students, social workers and various members of the community” he added.

In his latest speech Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles zenawi said “I don’t see any rush to go to war with Eritrea when a number of Eritrean soldiers are coming to us every day.”

Human rights defenders routinely label Eritrea one of Africa’s worst offenders, accusing it of using torture, killing and illegal imprisonment inside the country.

The U.S. State Department said in its 2007 world human rights report that Eritrea continued to commit “numerous serious abuses”. It said President Isaias Afwerki’s government used the border stalemate with Ethiopia to clamp down on dissent and keep much of the nation’s youth in the military. Eritrea denies that.

During last year an average of 300 Eritreans had been fleeing to Ethiopia on monthly basis but since the new Ethiopian millennium turned in this figure has risen to more than double.
Currently over 20,000 Eritreans are sheltered at shimelba refugee camp in northern Ethiopia.

According to officials at the camp the refugee camp is sheltering more than its carrying capacity.

A new refugee camp is under preparation to be constructed before the situation at shimelba goes out of control.

Immigrants have been receiving necessary treatment from the day of their arrival, including transferring them to USA, Canada and to various European nations. So far some 3400 Eritreans are resettled in to those countries

(ST)