SWA has become increasingly concerned with the situation in Eritrea
ASMERA, Eritrea (April 12, 2009) Student World Assembly (SWA) has become increasingly concerned for citizens and students living in Eritrea. Eighteen years after Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia, the country’s citizens are living under a harshly repressive regime. Human Rights Watch describes the situation in Eritrea as ‘a giant prison’, where any man, woman, or child trying to flee is shot on the spot. The Eritrean people live under a harsh police state, far more oppressive than even North Korea.
Eritrea’s President Isaias Afewerki and his People’s Front for Democracy and Justice Party systematically torture citizens in unsanitary detention centers, and enforce prolonged military inscription. Many of the prisoners are detained for their political or religious beliefs, others because they tried to evade the indefinite national service or flee the country as a means of survival. There is no tolerance of political dissent and there is very little religious freedom. Anyone voicing disagreement with government officials is detained and taken to concentration camps or prisons in the poorest possible conditions, where they risks becoming one of the hundreds of prisoners who have disappeared under the prison system.
There is no independent media and foreign media outlets are banned from entering the country, which has made it difficult for foreign news agencies to cover. However, President Isaias Afewerki did give an interview with Aljezzera last year, he said that he would not allow democratic elections for the next three decades.
Students in Eritrea who promote basic human rights and democratic freedoms are jailed or worse. An Eritrean student, who could not disclose his name for fear of persecution, said “Thousands of Eritreans are being tortured and kept in various detention centers across the country. There is no law here; the people are at the mercy of those in power. The government has the power to kill, torture, detain and even expel people from their home.” The youth have few opportunities in their home country and are too fearful to try and flee.
The UN reports 75 percent of Eritreans suffer from malnutrition that affect brain and body development. The countries economy is practically stagnant because of constant wars with neighboring countries, including war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000. Eritreans are trapped by their government, with few signs of life improving.
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