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Olympic Athlete and Other Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Relatives Report
Thirteen individuals detained for more than 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military prison, according to family members of the prisoners.
Those released were several prominent figures, such as elderly Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its severe environment and where many inmates are considered political prisoners.
Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest
A source who was once detained in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a senior internal security officer in the government.
Around 30 people were originally arrested, according to the source. A number have been released in the intervening period, but about 20 stayed imprisoned.
The Story of an Athlete
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have steadily gained global acclaim over the past decade.
List of 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 released as well.
The Eritrean government has remained silent concerning the releases of the detainees.
Many of them are in poor health and this could explain why they have been freed at this time.
Relatives were prohibited to visit the prisoners throughout their incarceration, the relatives said.
International Condemnation and Detention Environment
United Nations bodies and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, including ill-treatment, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has grown over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated.
Background on Political Rule
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no active constitutional framework. It is one of the most militarized countries, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been an absence of independent media since the shutdown of independent newspapers and detention of most of their editors and journalists 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 draft constitution and hold open elections.
According to advocacy organizations, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Now 79 years old, the leader marked 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an election.
Rita Jenkins
A financial strategist with over a decade of experience in wealth management and investment planning, dedicated to empowering others.
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