From: Eri-News (er_news@dehai.org)
Date: Sat Oct 11 2008 - 16:07:36 EDT
APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopia launched on Saturday an
investigation into the deportation of its 166 citizens to Eritrea
where they claimed to have been tortured for over three months.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Information said that Eritrean security
forces “brutally tortured” 166 Ethiopians and deported them into
Ethiopia on Thursday via the Rama area (north).
“Eritrean security forces detained and tortured the Ethiopians that
include 17 children and 62 women for four months in a place locally
called “Wi’a” before deporting them to their homeland,” Ethiopia said.
Ethiopia says its government had extradited the Ethiopian nationals
into Eritrea on 14 June 2008.
Accordingly, Ethiopia said that concerned bodies are investigating
why the Egyptian government handed over the Ethiopians to Eritrea.
“The repatriation of Ethiopian and Eritrean nationals has been
undertaken through the norms of the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC). The abusive deportation of Ethiopians by the
Eritrean security forces was contrary to international law,” the
ministry added.
The necessary assistance has been provided to Ethiopians who suffered
in the hands of the Eritrean regime, the ministry said.
APA was unable to get the Egyptian reaction on Ethiopia’s statement
as their embassy in Ethiopia was closed on Saturday.
Ethiopia and Eritrea, who were involved in a deadly war ten years
ago, are still unable to solve their border conflict despite repeated
call by the international community.
Over the past few months, Egypt has deported thousands of Eritrean
who crossed its border via Sudan for a stop to cross to Israel.
But, it was the first time that Egypt handed Ethiopians to Eritrea,
which forced Ethiopia to investigate the matter.
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