Report
The PFDJ regime and the Issue of Human Right are two
diametrically opposite realities.
1. Introduction:- If
the historical back ground of the Eritrean people is unfolded, it can be
realized that tremendous sacrifices were made to secure the liberty of citizens
so that to materialize an independent state. Finally the Eritrean statehood was
actualized through referendum. In a general speaking, the people of Eritrea,
apart from their physical participation in the course of the struggle, have paid
a lot in money and labor including the precious lives of its citizens.
In
line with the contemporary situation, citizens of the state are made to bow down
and obey if want to live under the yoke uplifted and endorsed by no other than
those who have led the liberation war to its final page. Those dedicated and
determined leaders became and turned their back and antagonize the natives of
the newly forged state to whom they have liberated.Today, the citizens of this
new state are suffering and made to question the meaning of the hard-won
freedom. They all are under reign of terror.Evey national with Eritrean back
ground, knows and accepts the sufferings as a daily bread.
What has pressed me to disclose in such an exclusive way is nothing but the
realities and the evil deeds of the regime for which I am fortuned to know. As a
citizen of this badly led nation, therefore, I am not lured to choose silence
while pure and innocent subjects are being purged unlawfully. Prior to dealing
with the real subject on topic, I prefer to give a brief account of my self.
Hoping this brief account will shed a light for the reader to grasp the item
sequentially
2.
I am Mengesteab and born to my father Girmay Asres Giorgish and mother Meaza
Weldetensaee Kahsay. I was born in 1972 and brought up in the Sudan as my
parents were refugees. My place of origin is Serejeqa in sub zone of Embaderho.
Separated from my parents and came to the Central zone and completed my junior
secondary school (1-8) under the guardianship of my grand mother in the suburbs
of Senbel, Asmara. I further continued and concluded my senior secondary school
(9-12) at Barka Secondary School, previously Qeih Bahri(Quehaz).
I
joined EPLF in 1990and was assign to the logistics department and worked there
till 1993, and then I was demobilized. While leading my ordinary life and
working for a construction company, as the border war between Eritrea and
Ethiopia broke out in 1998, I was ordered to join the 16th military intelligent
unit of regiment 161. I, then, served as an expert of Information and
Cartography in various military sections up to 2004.
Further, I joined the intelligence unit of third operational zone, as
investigator in the counter intelligence section till 9th month of 2007.
Counting, sensing and having observed the crimes made up on me and other
nationals on daily base, as a matter of luck and with the help of the Almighty
God, I was given the opportunity to slip off and rescue my self like those
youths who are lucky enough to get relieved from the criminal government of
Eritrea. I finally want to praise and thank the Almighty God for the golden
opportunity rendered to me to save my soul.
3. The
Party that disrespect rule of law:- having
observed the party’s inability to implement the ratified constitution and
leading the country with jungle laws of DO OR DO NOT rules, and applying all the
appalling and the ugly-facet crimes against its subjects, I am here to expose
those compiled and organized crimes as an investigator in the intelligence unit
I was assigned. I will especially delve in the specific crimes I came across as
an investigator and intelligence worker.
The
objectives of the counter-intelligence section where I was assigned as an
investigator and served for three years, were, to follow up, control and foil
any conspiracy by external or internal dissidents against the military and
governmental institutions. On top of that, surveying the over all counter
offensive movements be it public or military and curbing such activities is also
another duty of this section. These are those authenticated principles of any
counter-intelligence institution.
Contrary to the reality, on the base of the self-created problems and instead of
solving them in a comprehensive way, as a lack of confidence and skill, the
government is always at throats with those innocent and down-to-earth oppressed
nationals of the state. It has developed an extreme mistrust with its subjects.
Time and again, it creates unnecessary excuses and exploits them to the maximum
level. Those helpless and genuine nationals, now and again are becoming targets
of such pretexts.
In
Eritrea, there are several sites selected for such hidden and criminal
activities. Ala 17 is among the several cells owned by the intelligence branch
of the Third Operational Zone situated at Sasah Ala near the logistics section
of the ministry of defense. It is a prison place built by the construction units
of the 3rd OPERATIONAL ZONE in 2003.It’s a site carefully selected for its
strategic and out of public sight, silence and “pacifism” and constructed amidst
two hills that stands as a border line between Weqerti and Sesah villages. There
are nine cameras or
classes .An isolated room with 4x4 meters totally cemented so as not to transmit
a sound serving for investigation or interrogation section. There is a wide room
for guards, one room for the head of the section, a room for investigators and
roofed cells for the prisoners and a kitchen.
4. Cases
investigated in such sites and areas: The
issue of the illegal flight (sigre dob).
-Those nationals caught while crossing border to Ethiopia that is considered as
“illegal immigration”,
- Suspects of escorting escapes or showing the way through the border "human
traffickers,
- Suspects of planning to cross the border after they were eavesdropped by
informants or their mobile phones were tapped,
-
People arrested without rhyme or reason even if they had no intention to escape
and
-dubbed as smugglers between those who want to buy their way out across the
border and the human traffickers.
.
B Counterfeiters of military and other organizations pass papers, identity
cards (of citizenship, schools etc.) and other official documents,
-Movement permits paper,
-Identity cards like students, residence, and membership.
C. Evaders of military service
- Accused of missing for a long period of time.
- Students who discontinued their education for a long period of time.
D. Followers of “illegal” faiths,
E. Corruption (with a special reference to teachers):-
- accused of issuing student identity cards to those above 18 years old
learners of elementary and junior high schools
- Accused of issuing student identity cards to non-students.
Reasons why youngsters flee their country
If
stayed 18 months avoiding the decreed national service program they are liable
to be caught as illegal. On top of the stated,
a. The extended and prolonged military service program.
b. Labor exploitation of the military heads for personal consumption,
c. The influence of social condition,
d. Unacceptable and dictatorial tendencies of the military leaders. To avoid all
the enumerated factors, they are forced to leave their beloved, parents,
children, families and land. While the exodus of the youth is emanated from the
above stated realities, the government on the other hand is striving to
misinform the masses as if the propaganda of neighboring governments is the
cause for the flight.
5. Conditions
of the ALA 17 prison cell:-
Handling of prisoners:-None of the human and democratic rights are
applicable.
1. confiscation
of personal assets like money, jewelry, necessary documents and gifts,
2. forbid
change of clothes and underwear’s,
3. inflict
pain and weaken them through meager food,water,and medicine supplies,
4. haunt
them by applying strict sever security and surveillance measures,
5. deny
family access,
6. Wear
them out through rigorous labor .
Interrogation system
1. Deviates
from the traditional police system. Follow with a great menace and torture
2. fail
to be accountable or responsible for the damage they brought,
3. emotional
rather rational,
4. Generally,
there is no clear legal method of interrogation and thus, it is done on a whim
and far–off from human rights and dignities.
Decision Making There
is no written penal code therefore, the decision maker’s construe their
verdict and thus the weaknesses are:
-
Irrelevant
and inappropriate penalty to the case,
-
give unjust decisions
favoring and releasing some prisoners on reasons of friendship,
relationship, benefits etc.
Decision Makers:-The
decision makers and those who sketch the punishments are the military elites,
who believe in experience than academic excellence, and among them,
1. Major
general Omer Hassen Tawil-commander of the 3rd operational zone,
2. Major
Tekleberhan Hagos (weddi Ayney) - staff spy member of the 3rd operational zone.
At times will pass decisions and resolutions through their representatives and
secretaries as well. Let me name some nationals who were victims of the above
stated decision makers. In the 10th month of 2006, members of ministry of
information had made their ways toward the border illegally.
a.
Journalist Ahmed Bahja- Arabic desk,
b. Journalist Daniel Kibrom- Oromo desk
c. Simret Sereqe-member of the 28th regiment,
d. and a civilian Selamawit by name were all caught at Tekondaa/ Adiqeih, and
sent to us for further interrogation and punishment. As the attached information
disclosed, four of them were tagged as “unlawful” deserters while Ahmed Baja was
registered as a group leader and coordinator of the plan. At the final touch,
the following sentences were passed:
1. Journalist Daniel Kibrom for five years,
2. Simret Sereqe for five years,
3. The civilian Selamawit to stay jailed for a year and thereafter to go to
Sawa.
Ahmed Bahja the instigator and organizer, was released after two months of
trouble-free detainment, because Ali Abdu, chief of the Ministry of Information
and Omar Tawil, chief of the third operational zone intervened. To ease the
rumor spread around As operational Asmara about the arrest of Ahmed Bahja, he
was made to host John The Baptist’s Day celebration with journalist Tirhas
Kiflai on Eri TV.
Yonas Berhe with the intention to flee to Ethiopia was caught at Egela a village
between Adi-Keih and Senafe, hit by three bullets. When he was being taken to
Asmara, for medical care Kibrom Seyoum chief of the branch of counter
intelligence of the third operational zone stopped the vehicle and forced the
victim to sign saying that he was wounded trying to cross the border with
Ethiopia, in case he is dead on the way to hospital. He was so weak to sign and
prints of his four fingers were taken. After staying for eight months in
hospital he was made to be handed over to the authorities by his own mother He
was sent to Ala-Bazit prison for 7 years because he cant serve in the military
due to injuries on his right arm and lung. No one knows who took the 3227 US
dollars in his person when he was caught.
Mehari, a teacher who taught for more than 30 years in Elementary and Junior
High School of Kudubour in sub-zone Emny Haily was fired, because he admitted a
student in breach of the regulation that prohibits any one above 18 years of age
to learn in elementary and junior high schools.
Tekle Tewolde Yakob graduate of Asmera University in Educational Administration
and who was awaiting placement was arrested on visit to his family in Segeneity
on the pretext that he escorts people to Ethiopia and Sudan for money. Though
there was no evidence for the charges against him, he was sentenced, any how, to
three years in prison.
Daniel Netsereab, a former teacher in sub-zone Golluj in Gash-Barka zone was
sentenced, without any evidence, to 4 years in prison for trafficking youngsters
to Ethiopia and Sudan. He is now in Adi-Quala prison.
Utban Mohammed, Counter Intelligence the third operational zone was sentenced
to 3 years in prison. He was maliciously accused by the chief of counter
Intelligence of the zone Kibrom Seyoum of passing secrets from prisoners to
prisoners. He died of health problems after serving a year in Ala-Bazit prison.
Letemichael Hebtemariyam was detained for 4 month on the ground that she was
illegally sending females to Bahren. Although she insisted that she works
legally together with her Eritrean colleague in Bahrain she was maliciously
accused by Paulos a staff member of the Asmara National Security and by the
help of his friend Teklebrhan Hagos. The diabetic Letemichael suffered for 4
months in custody until Tesfai came from Bahrain and proved their legitimacy.
Mehret Beyene from the village Deqi shahai in the Asmera zone was caught with
her husband trying to cross to Ethiopia. She was 3 months pregnant and was held
until she was two weeks due to give birth, after her poor parents’ few cattle
were sold and paid 10 thousand Nakfa plus a bail. Usually when women were
detained pregnancy tests were carried out and were outright released on bail if
they are positive.
Around 40 followers of un-permitted religion (most of them women) were arrested
by security authorities of Mendefera and Dekemhare towns and forced to choose
either prison or change their belief. Thos who said religion is personal but we
will do what ever our country requires of us were imprisoned for a long time in
the prison of the third operational zone Ala-Bazit under Warden Colonel
Gebremedhin. One of these, Tesfaldet Abai was arrested for 3 years.
Girmai Gebrezghi, Hannes, Afeworki, Gebremariam from the villages of Hebo and
Meala, Segeneity sub-zone are among the old men imprisoned for 3 months on the
pretext that their children evaded conscription.
Tecleberhan Berhe a soldier and former university student Melaku Feseha were
executed allegedly intending to flee the country. The most painful thing is
Melaku was shot in front of his uncle Debesay Tewelde and his other close
relation Tsagai Mesfin. The list of the atrocities is so long for it is the
daily acts of the dictatorial
regime.
Genocide
Let’s now see the genocide committed by the 3rd and 5th operational zones after
they have changed and exchanged their places on Jan. 2007. The commander of the
fifth Operational zone Colonel Wedi Welela came to replace our station from
Asmara and we went to Mendefera. The commander of the third operational zone
Major General Omer Tewil and his cronies were so eager to resume the unfinished
ethnic cleansing plan that has been on function by the previous commander Major
General Philipos W/yohanes and zonal administrator Mustafa Nurhussien.
As
soon as the shifting of places is finalized, our command leaders brought all the
containers (prison cells) from Dekemhare loading them in heavy trucks and put
them in a place called Adi Tsetser some 3 kms away from Mendefera. They put the
containers in private garage. After the transformation of the prison sites, they
resumed hunting members of the Kunama ethnic group. Under the previous plan
and order of Mustafa and general Philipos, around 70 Kunama ethnic members were
already in custody under horrific conditions in Barentu. Their crime is said to
be nothing but their actual and practical resentment and rebellion against the
PFDJ regime.
Surprising enough, leaders of the 3rd operational zone had come up with a new
mechanism and pretext to proceed with the brutal gunning down and detention of
the Kunama labeling them as members and supporters of the Kunama resistance
movement-the Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Eritrean Kunama
(DMLEK).The labels conjured and tagged against the innocent Kunama were cynical
as feeders, fund raiser and contributors be it in kind or finance, providers of
hiding places, spying for, ambushing and planting land mines. Under the pretext
of the stated accusations, around 300 Kunama ethnic members were already in
prison.
This massive and indiscriminate detention has covered overwhelming parts of the
rural areas where member of the Kunama ethnic groups used to live for centuries.
The age limit of the detention ranges from 9 to the doddering ages. The rural
sites included in this appalling ethnic cleansing project were Faulina, Boshoka,
Shambako, Bimbilna, Tolegamuja, Aymaba and Koyta biya. Further, to intensify and
finalize the projected campaign on time, reinforcement forces were called up to
take part in the campaign with the command force of the third operational zone.
The prison cells of Shambako, Barentu, Boshoka, May Dima and Mendefera were
actually administered under the intelligence unit of the ministry of defense,
intelligence units of the 2nd and 3rd operational zones, and the intelligence
unit of the 25th regiment respectively.
The
prisoners were bloodily harassed, molested and tortured to say yes to the
accusations which are alien to them and know nothing about. Here, the main
motive behind the curtain was to paralyze and to put an end or stoppage to the
ongoing struggle being waged by the Kunama movement-DMLEK. Since DMLEK was
getting strong backing and had intensified small scale military operations
through which it became popular in the Gash-Barka regional administration; and
to retaliate and foil the resistance, the regime has piled all the crimes and
punishments up on the innocent civilian Kunama.The calculations of the regime
was to cripple the movement of DMLEK by revenging up on the parents, close
relatives and wives of the fighters. The purposes of the torture, harassments
and killings are nothing but emanated from the frustration the regime is getting
on daily bases for which it has failed to keep up with the opposition’s pace.
Detailed cases abuses on the spot were as follows;
1. 10
children ranged from 9-13 years old were sentenced for 6 months at Halhale
rehabilitation center of the third operational zone,
2. 13
individuals aged 13-18 were sentenced 1-4 years in Adi Quala languishing up to
the present,
3. Around
250 Kunama of all ages including mothers with their little ones were sentenced
1-20 years in Adi Quala,
4.
12 individuals were used for propaganda purposes,.
5. 2 individuals died during interrogation,
6.
26 people were poisoned and killed, and
7.
28 Kunama ethnic members were brutally executed.
Explanations for the cases abused under items 4, 5, 6, and 7;
It
took 5 months (01/2007-05 /2007) to wrap up the out lined atrocities. To
accomplish the project, the regime (PFDJ) has come up with a new dramatized
fiction. The authors (writers of the fiction) were first, major General Omer
Tewil, the commander of the third operational zone, Major Tekleberhan Hagos
(weddi ayney) and the Minister of information, Mr. Ali Abdu .The prime motive
was to look for Kunama individuals who are well articulated in Tigrinya
language so that they can easily deceive Eritreans through mass media or
propaganda. They were forced to confess and blame themselves that they were
those who planted anti- vehicle mines in Shambako, Geze, Erab, Bimbilna,
Sinshale, and Adi Teklehimanot at the beginning of 2001.
Underlining the shortage of propaganda materials at hand, Mr. Ali Abdu was so
grateful and once things are arranged well by the commanders of the third
operational zone, he agreed to send the best camera man and journalist. He
thought it to could be a great opportunity to blackmail the Woyane (Ethiopian
government) in the eyes all Eritreans
Next, the leaders of the third operational zone, Major Teklebrhan Hagos and
Kibrom Seyoum have selected 12 Kunama prisoners from Mendefera for the mission
at hand and took them to Boshoka. In order to make the mission successful, those
prisoners were treated well in all conditions by stuffing them with food,
clothing, cigarettes etc. Hereafter, they were taken to the sites where mines
were blasted to rehearse and took lessons on how to plant a mine though they
were all soldiers. They were told by the mission organizers that they will be
free once they accomplished the given task.
Later, completing the first phase of the fictitious operation, Ali Abdu sent
Girmay Debesay as a Journalist, Mohamed as a camera man and Alem as a driver
with all the needed media equipments to report and record the drama in Boshoka.
To
decorate the drama in utmost level and color, the prisoners were well advised,
taught and trained to say --they were stooges sponsored by the government of
Ethiopia and planted mines ….etc. On the other hand they were also told to
praise and thank the PFDJ regime for the good handlings albeit to their wrong
doings. Amazingly enough, the contribution of Girmay Debessay–the journalist in
organizing that drama was marvelous. What else can he do if ordered from Ali
Abdu?
Since I was in person in the process, I had been astonished by the drama; and
the following were the innocent victims during the scandal.
|
Names of
victims |
Village\
town |
Occupation |
1 |
Kiros
Beyene Adura |
Faulina |
regiment18 member |
2 |
Hagos
Shiday Boron |
Faulina |
demobilized Soldier |
3 |
Bibo
Fafu Tunga |
Faulina |
demobilized soldier |
4 |
Andeberhan G/Micheal |
Tsibuk
Girat |
demobilized soldier |
5 |
Badme
Gufle Bara |
Faulina |
militia |
6 |
Anday
Aroro Sale |
Boshoka |
pfdj
member |
7 |
Abdulahi
Mario Andulu |
Boshoka |
farmer |
8 |
Solomon
Sahle (Ngaw) |
Boshoka |
militia |
9 |
Yemane
Merema Gobay |
Boshoka |
farmer |
10 |
Munadil
Siiday Alengay |
Boshoka |
soldier |
11 |
Shali
Frute |
Tolegamuja |
regiment
16 member |
12 |
Gebremariam Desta(Aroro) |
Faulina |
farmer |
After the successful completion of the dramatized project, the prisoners were
immediately taken to the prison site of Maydima for which the intelligence unit
of the 25th regiment is accountable. There after, the prisoners were told to dig
a 4m x 4m hole with 5m depth around their prison cells. Additional 14 Kunama
prisoners were also brought from Adi qaula to “help” the 12 prisoners in digging
the hole. Now and then, the personnel of the prision site have used to tell the
purpose of the hole as for a toilet. At other times they said for a water
reservoir. Unfortunately they were digging their own permanent home with out
their knowledge.
First, Major Tekle Berhan Hagos “wedi Ayney” has brought two containers of
twenty litters each containing chemical zed poison from Meanderer to May Dima.
Then, the previous securities of the Maydima prison cell were given 10 days
leave to stay at home so as not to observe the end of the beginning. They were
replaced by the following committed and loyal individuals who were selected and
brought from Mendefera to carryout that massacre.
Names of the individuals selected to carry out that massacre
were;
1. Sergent
Kidane Tesfamicheal (wedi keren) group leader
2. Sergent
Mihretu group leader,
3. Sergent
Girmay Ghebrezgher (Commando head)
4.
Sergent Kiflay (wedi Gash) group leader,
5.
Sergent Tsegab Measho (Chealo group leader), and
6.
Sergent Tsegay Abraham-interrogator.
All
the 26 prisoners were poisoned together in one day and murdered in April 2007.
Out of the 26 massacred Kunama, I have the names of six victims in my mind and
these are;
|
Names of
the Victims |
Village
\town |
Occupation |
1 |
Tesfay
Sheli |
Boshoka |
farmer &
Priest |
2 |
Musa
Kebede |
Boshoka |
farmer |
3 |
Meme
Shara |
Boshoka |
militia |
4 |
Gebremariam Dudu |
Faulina |
farmer |
5 |
Awate
Nada Baden |
Aymaba |
militia |
6 |
Dule
Abdela |
Aymaba |
farmer |
Names of the two individuals died while being interrogated were;
Evidences of my testimonies about the Genocide
Victims for another propaganda mission but Kibrom Seyoum told him that they have
gone. I was with Kibrom while the two giants were talking over the mobile cell
phone. Ali Abdu has expressed his dissatisfaction and regret by the measures
taken so swift.
-
As usual,
when I was preparing reports of 3, 6 month and of year to the third
operational zone and ministry of Defense, I have reported that 28 prisoners
were executed.
-
One day when
we went to Mai Dima with a member of the intelligence unit who has took part
in that massacre, the guy has asked me if I know that graveyard hinting me
through a body language and when I said “yes” he nodded at me with a grief
of any one can read from his face.
-
The exact
place of the graveyard is located inside the prison premises of regiment 25
intelligence unit in May Dima. It is around mountain Berakit on the way to
Obal.
Profile of the poisoned and killed:-
Both, Tesfay Shuli and Gebremariam Dudu are ex fighters of EPLF captured at the
Barentu battle in 1985 during the Dergue regime and sentenced life long in Addis
Ababa, discharged together with the political and war prisoners at the
independence time.
*Kiros Beyene and Badumme Gufle are maternal brothers.
*Andebirhan Gebremicael is Tigrinya speaker, Tsibuq Girat of Mulqi sub zone is
his birth palce.He was hired as a field guard in Faulina with a Kunama espouse.
*Hagos Shadda Boron is killed for the very reason that he has a son called Abbu
Hagos who joined the liberation struggle and his families are in Addi kuala.
*Shulli Frute is killed because he has a brother called Bibi Furute who joined
the Kunama movement.
*Anday Aroro is killed for he has a maternal brother called Manna Maku who
joined the Kunama movement.
*Galla Tabbe Fakki is killed because he has a son called Danga who is a member
of the Kunama movement.
Those whom I left languishing behind the bar:-
*Kenna Tonki is sentenced 15 years for the sheer reason that his son Kuba
is a member of the Kunama movement and is languishing in Addi Kuala.
* Kalli Sabbot of Tole gamuja is sentenced 8 years for his son Dergi is member
of the Kunama movement.
*Tokko Abbadar along her baby and a resident of Boshoka is sentenced 10 years
for her husband Sabab Bashay is member of the Kunama movement.
*Asha Abdot, a resident of Boshoka is sentenced a year for she had a child from
Woldemicael Lili, a members of the Kunama movement.
Mehari weddi Mentur is a member from Tigrinya speaking ethnic group and married
Gennet Mario, a lady from Kunama nationality has a vast arable land in
Boshoka.He was interrogated severely for the very reason that he married a
Kunama lady and suspected him as a sympathetic towards the Kunama and was
released after three moths with a strong warning.
I am giving a condensed part of the vast. From the 12 men selected for
propaganda consumption, the former four, Anday Aroro, Yemane Meremma, Abdullahi
Mario, and Selemun Sahle were brought in the Eri TV screen and the whole drama
is presented by a journalist Gebremeskel Gerezgiher.
At the final analysis, the government of Eritrea being accountable for the mass
killing and genocide, those who are responsible for organizing such horrific
plans of Atrocities are,
2.
Major Tekleberhan Hagos (Weddiayney)-staff intelligence member of the third
operational zone,
-
Captain
kibrom Seyoum Tsaada-Guna,head of the counter intelligence unit of the third
operational zone, and,
-
Major Bereket
Weldegebriel (qewhi)-Staff intelligence unit of the 25th regiment.
Translated by:
EDA, English unit. Last
Updated ( Oct 21, 2008 )
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