Olympian and Other Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Facing Charges, Relatives Say
A group of thirteen people held for more than 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military detention facility, according to relatives of the detainees.
Those released were a number of prominent figures, including 69-year-old Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa detention center, known for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons.
Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest
A source who was once detained in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a high-ranking state security official in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, per the source. Some have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen remained in custody.
Profile of an Athlete
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong tradition of cycling and its riders have steadily gained global acclaim over the past decade.
Those Among the Released
Those released alongside Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist.
Six senior police officers and an internal security agent were also freed.
The Eritrean government has made no official comment regarding the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are in poor health and this could explain why they have been released at this time.
Families were prohibited to see the prisoners during their detention, the family members said.
Global Condemnation and Detention Environment
The UN and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearances and the detention of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa facility, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Context of Government Control
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no active constitutional framework. It is one of the most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been an absence of independent media since the closure of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the head of state put into effect the proposed constitution and hold open elections.
According to rights groups, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Aged 79, the leader marked 32 years in office and has yet to participate in an electoral contest.
