Sanaa says “unacceptable” Eritrea’s detention of Yemeni fishermen

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

July 26, 2008 (TAIZ, Yemen) — The Yemeni government late this week said the continued detention of Yemeni fishermen by Eritrea is “unacceptable” and breaks passed agreement made between Yemen and Eritrea.

Eritrean authorities earlier this month stepped up operation in the international waters and detained 171 Yemeni fishermen. Yemen’s ruling General People’s Congress (GPC)–run al-Motamar reported.

“Eritrean authorities with seizing the fishermen’s’ boats are violating former agreements made between Eritrea and Ethiopia imposing on the two countries not to attack each other’s fishing boats,” police statement said.

“The recent detention against the Yemeni fishermen is unjustified operation and totally unacceptable” it added.

Following the recent crackdown by Eritrean authorities the Yemeni government officially has protested to what it called ‘arrest without any justification’ and demanded an immediate and unconditional release of its citizens.

Earlier this year the Yemeni government summoned the Eritrean ambassador to Sana’a Musa Yasin to hand over a protest note concerning the continued arrest of Yemeni fisher men by Eritrea.

The 171 fishermen, after held for a week in Eritrean prison were returned home on Wednesday and Thursday.

(ST)