Eritrea's hardline regime has jailed at least 10,000 political prisoners, many in "unimaginably atrocious conditions", rights group Amnesty International said in a report. With political opposition banned, independent media quashed and religious minorities targeted, the ex-rebel government uses a system of underground cells and shipping containers to house the prisoners, the report released on Thursday said. "The government has systematically used arbitrary arrest and detention without charge to crush all opposition, to silence all dissent, and to punish anyone who refuses to comply with the repressive restrictions it places on people's lives," said Claire Beston, Amnesty's Eritrea researcher. The report says "at least 10,000" prisoners have "disappeared into secret and incommunicado detention" in the Horn of Africa nation, but warns it is impossible to know the exact figure. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/05/20135913352747625.html Regime in Eritrea is a presidential republic. The President was elected the first National Assembly in 1993. As of October 2012, Aisaais Afoorki still president and head of state, head of government and commander in chief of the army. Only party is a "Popular Front for Democracy and Equality" (PFDJ). National Assembly appointed a hundred and fifty delegates. Eritrea only party policy has serious implications for human rights, including: Ban on political association not for the party, or criticizing the ruling party. That is, any opposition is not valid. Since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, there were no general elections. Election date was set several times but were canceled before the elections were held. Shut down all print media, which was in private hands until 2001. According to an annual ranking of press freedom in various world compiled by the organization "Reporters without Borders" Eritrea has consistently ranked between 2005 and 2010 as one of the three countries that restrict freedom of the press, of the 170 countries surveyed in 2011 and 2012 despite ranked last among countries. For all citizens, men and women, mandatory military service, formally limited to 18 months, but the practice persists indefinitely. Citizens who refuse to serve in the army or escaped from arrested, tortured and even killed. State also harassing the families of deserters and imposes on them fines and imprisonment. Military service is not limited to military occupations in other words it is forced labor without pay. Imprisonment without trial any person publicly criticizing the regime. Prohibitions and restrictions on assembly, of association and freedom of expression. Freedom of religion is very limited. Allowed only four religions: Eritrean Orthodox Church (retired from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church), Catholic Christianity, the Eritrean Lutheran Church and Sunni Islam. Followers of any other religion persecuted and imprisoned without trial may be exposed to torture. Thousands of them fled the country. Terms Eritrea extreme cruelty. Prisoners are held in underground pits or containers of ships, exposure to the sun reach life-threatening temperatures. Thousands missing dissidents, while the government denies the existence of political prisoners.
Compressed social change, fear and violence, injustice. Perfect breeding ground that leaders of extremist groups look for. Very strategic coastline as well. More's the pity.
They gained independence from the oppressors of Ethiopia so they can now oppress themselves , genious! Eritrea (the name means "red" probably it is mostly a salt desert) is historically Ethiopian land and the majority of the population is Tigrean Ethiopians , their capital was the old capital of the Ethiopian empire ... say Northumberland gets independent and has London for capital if this can make sense.
Maybe Arabs and Muslims will start to open threads about OTHER serious problems in the world and not all day long about Israel !! Haaa ???
Of course. All the world can collapse.. and the Islamic forum will open threads ONLY against Israel. 80000 dead Syrians - pure silence from the Islamists. Hunger in Africa - Yep , let's blame israel. Thousands dead in Iraq, yemen, Libya, No human rights in Iran - again they open threads ONLY about Israel. Maybe, maybe not. Up to them. Get it folks ?????
