Amnesty International launches a campaign for Aster Fessehatsion

International Human Rights Day Remembers Eritrean Prisoners

By Habtom Yohannes

December 10, 2005

Aster Poster #1,   Aster Poster #2

Click here to see more pictures.

On the special occasion of International Human Rights Day, Saturday 10 December, the Dutch chapter of Amnesty International has launched a campaign to draw the Netherlands' attention to the ongoing and deteriorating human rights violations in Eritrea. Mrs. Aster Fessehatsion, the only woman who signed the "Open Letter", an argent call of the "Group of 15" for the implementation of the Eritrean Constitution, multi-party elections, abolition of the non-judicial Special Courts and other reforms, was chosen to give face to the thousands Eritrean prisoners of conscience who have been languishing in medieval prisons. Amidst members of Dutch Parliament, leaders of labour movements, journalists, artists and authors; I had the privilege to read an open letter to Aster Fessehatsion after a short introduction of the human rights situation in Eritrea.

I took my hat off in respect of Aster Fessehatsion and all the other prisoners of concience.

Mrs. Hadassah de Boer, one of the well know television personalities in The Netherlands responded and vowed to campaign for Asters' release. The hall where the campaign was launched was decorated with the beautiful photos of Aster. The message was: "know! That we won't forget you!" 

QuickTime Movie Omitted by Editor (unsupported format)

Habtom Yohannes reading the open letter to Aster Fessehatsion:

"know that we won't forget you! And please stay alive"

Watch the video:

http://zoomin.tv/videoplayer/index.cfm?fuseaction=videolaunch&video_id=197762&nbg=ftv>

or read the Dutch article: http://www.nieuws.nl/65167

"Know! That we won't forget you!"

Aster Fessehatsion was arrested on September 18, 2001. When the security forces of Isaias Afwerki barged to her home, her son Ibrahim (Ibu) named after the martyred Ibrahim Affa was with her. Shocked by what had happened, he run to the house of his father Mahmood Sheriffo, the ex-husband of Aster, to tell him what happened to his mother. When he reached the house of Mahmood Sheriffo he found not only his father but also the security forces of Isaias. On the same day they arrested both parents leaving the young boy behind. Mahmood Sheriffo was the minister of Local Government, second to President Isaias Afwerki. Both belong to the "Group of 15-1" who criticized Isaias Afwerki and his regime for betraying the promise of the Eritrean struggle. Except three, who are staying in exile, nobody knows the whereabouts of the 11 former comrades of Isaias Afwerki when they together were fighting for the liberation of Eritrea. We hear that the sons and daughters of the G-11 and the other prisoners of conscience are forced to military service under close scrutiny. 

After the imprisonment of the heroes of the armed struggle, the regime continued its an abated  crack down on independent journalists, critical intellectuals, religious groups and others who dared to question its legitimacy.

Two days earlier, on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 Amnesty International published a well-documented report on the ongoing religious persecution in Eritrea. I think it is without exaggeration if I say that we Eritreans are blessed with such an independent human rights organisations like Amensty International. Allow me to thank Amensty Inaternational, Amensty Inaternational Netherlands, all the volunteers for such a wonderful job. This organisations has been our voice during the subsequent oppressions under different foreign dictators. When more than 70.000 Eritreans and Ethiopians of Eritrean origin were expelled from Ethiopia under horrible conditions, Amensty International documented every case and the organisation was welcomed in Eritrea to interview the deportees. But the same regime is still refusing to allow Amensty Inaternational visit Eritrea.

The regime has a lot to hide but never for ever. 

Let me take this opportunity to compliment the Eritrean Civic Societies in Europe for staging a very successful demonstration in Brussels, the heart of European diplomacy. What we need is a focused, peaceful struggle for democracy and human rights. A strong and independent Eritrean Civic Society Movement is a prerequisite for a successful struggle for human rights and democracy in Eritrea. Such kind of movement won't be hijacked by any political organisation.

Habtom Yohannes

December 10, 2005