Brussels, 19/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 18 September - the anniversary of the arbitrary imprisonment of members of the Eritrean Parliament in 2001, who are now political prisoners totally cut off from the outside world and deprived of all their rights - the EU reiterated its deep concern at the constant human rights violations in Eritrea, and called for the release of these prisoners. “We remain deeply concerned that the State of Eritrea continues to violate its international and domestic obligations regarding human rights (…) We are particularly concerned by the continued detention without charge, trial or legal counsel - since 18 September 2001 - of a group of eleven prominent members of Parliament and of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice, and also - since 23 September 2001 - of ten independent journalists, including the Eritrean-EU citizen Dawit Isaak”, says a statement published on the evening of Thursday 18 September by the European External Action Service (EEAS) on behalf of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
The EU deplores the fact that the Eritrean government has been deaf to the numerous calls from the international community - including the UN Human Rights Council and the EU - and it reminds the Eritrean authorities of their obligations, particularly in terms of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Once again, the EU urges the Eritrean government “to release these prisoners immediately and unconditionally”. The EU requests that “all information on the whereabouts of these prisoners is made public and that they have access to their families and lawyers not least on humanitarian grounds”. (AN)