• Sweden edition

Swedish media groups call for Eritrea aid ban

Published: 3 May 10 13:30 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/26428/20100503/

Swedish media and rights groups on Monday called on the EU to halt aid to Eritrea until Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak and other prisoners are released from a "death camp" near the capital Asmara.

"The EU's aid to Eritrea must gradually be halted," said the heads of the Swedish chapters of rights groups like Reporters Without Borders and PEN, along with journalist and publishing associations in a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day.

No aid should be given to Asmara "until the Eraeiro death camp is closed, its prisoners are given medical care ... and released or given an open trial on the 'crimes' they are suspected of," they wrote in an opinion piece in the Dagens Nyheter daily.

According to the piece, the EU's total aid package to Eritrea in coming years totals $413 million.

Their appeal came amid new reports on harsh conditions at the high-security Eraeiro secret prison near Asmara, where Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak and a number of other reporters and opposition politicians are reportedly being held.

An Eritrean with Swedish citizenship, Isaak was arrested in September 2001 along with a dozen newspaper owners, editors and journalists accused of being Ethiopian spies.

A number of demonstrations were planned across Sweden Monday calling for the release of the reporter, now 45.

"The prisoners are dying one by one. How long will it take before the world reacts and puts pressure on Eritrea to release the political prisoners?" Isaak's brother Esayas told the TT news agency.

Last month, the first information in years pinpointing Isaak's whereabouts and describing the conditions of his detention emerged in Sweden, and on Monday new accounts from a former guard at the Eraeiro prison surfaced.

Isaak "complains all the time, asking for 'medicine, medicine,' and all the time asking for help from a doctor ... I think he has mental problems," ex-guard Eyob Bahta Habtemariam told the Expressen daily.

Habtemariam, in hiding in Ethiopia, said he had last seen Isaak on January 5th, right before he himself fled from Eritrea.

He said Isaak was held handcuffed nearly around the clock in solitary confinement in a windowless cell measuring only 12 square metres at the secret prison, some 50 kilometres from Asmara.

The prisoners there, which include former government ministers opposed to President Isaias Afeworki, were not tortured, but according to Habtemariam, the suffocating heat and isolation "was worse than torture".

"When I started working (at the prison) nine years ago, there were 35 prisoners. Fifteen of them are dead today," he told Expressen, adding that three of the dead had killed themselves.

"There is a risk (Isaak) will kill himself," Habtemariam insisted.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

17:46 May 3, 2010 by Nemesis
This is a good idea.

There is a large number of countires in the third world that could eb changed quickly if we threatened to cut of aid and arms sales.

All it takes is for the west to cut of aid to one country and the rest will get the message.

Also any money withheld should be spent on social and infrastructure in the west. That would send a message that any monies withheld will not merelly be heald until a later date.
21:01 May 3, 2010 by boby
Bunch of Swedish hypocrats. When Israel is posing blockade on Gaza as applying pressure to get the kidnapped soldier back, all these left fachists from Sweden jump up and down and compare Israel to the Nazis. But when it is one of thier own, then it is OK to stop aid to milions. I hate the left fachists.
23:01 May 3, 2010 by Uncle
boby - I back your comment fully.

To cut aid for starving Eritreans - this is fair and legal , whereas to stop providing fuel and cigarettes to aggressive, rocket shooting, suicide bomber sending, kidnapping Gaza, where millions of dollars are poured already by Europe is unacceptable.

If it was an Israeli journalist kidnapped in Eritrea, Sweden would probably sue Israel in Strasbourg if it dared to apply economical pressure on Eritrea, while muslims would make a party here. Freaking ridiculous.
01:33 May 4, 2010 by bbeynch
What many people do not realize is that generally accepted diplomatic protocol dictates that a person with dual citizenship is subject to the laws of the country where he comitted the legal infraction. Even the UN follows this principle. Hence a dual citizenship Eritrea/Sweden can not appeal to Swedish authorities in Eritrea for assistance. He is considered a 100% Eritrean. And vice versa too. If he committed a crime in Sweden, he can not seek assistance from Eritrean authrities there, as he is "Swedish". Whether this is fair or not is another matter. If the conditions in an eritrean prison are "harsh" by Swedish standards may be irrelevant to Eritrean authorities, since to them he simply an "Eritrean". It is thus not always a positive to carry two passports.
02:28 May 4, 2010 by salamlalam
I am flablagasted to see Eritreans in the diaspora who enablers to the slave plantation owner of a country called Eritrea. The people are forced to give their teenage boys and girls to such a state. What ever they produce is sold at low price to the government.and every Eritrean has been equally poor and destitued, except the few slave drivers. I don't know how these cowardly people waged a war of liberation unless they were forced at the barrel of the gun and had no choice but to fight to death. The people of Eritrea are not the one that are getting the aid of the west but, every, liberation front, and every arms merchant. It is hight times important that the west should cease and descese to sustain the enslavement of the people. The people have lost the dream to a democratic and free nation, and they go with their tails between their legs. They go out scared and sleep scared, and the number of mental patients in relation to its population is among the highest in the world.

EU please do the Eritrean people a favor and stop aid to the Dictator of Eritrea and the few dogs; the people are used to survive with little but can't survive the dehumanizing mental sickness.
11:55 May 4, 2010 by Audrian
This regime was hailed as a shinning example of democracy in the offing when it was at war for cessation. The dictator has killed numerous radical ethnic Tigre-students that left the university in Ethiopia and joined the struggle because they demanded democratic leadership. This inconvenient news was ignored, because he was regarded on the western side of the cold war. The regime in Eritrea has not changed one bite it is the West that has lost consistency.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
GOTHENBURG SCHOOL STABBING
Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old

Man held for stabbing Swedish 10-year-old

A 28-year-old man suspected of stabbing a young girl in the throat at the beginning of February, has been apprehended and is being held in another country pending Sweden's extradition demand. READ »

Swedish man lay 'dead for weeks' in Lund flat

A man in Lund, southern Sweden, lay dead in his house for weeks before his body was discovered, as visiting care staff had left after the man failed to answer his door. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Sweden expels foreign official: report

The Swedish government said on Tuesday it has expelled a foreign diplomat, but spokespeople were unwilling to confirm international reports that it was a high level official from Rwanda. READ »

THE LOCAL LIST
Sweden's seven 'sexiest' places explored

Sweden's seven 'sexiest' places explored

On Valentine's Day, The Local invites you on a journey of seduction through Sweden, a country which may be worth probing further when it comes to matters of love. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Valentine's day in Sweden - readers' sweet tweets and love stories

Valentine's day in Sweden - readers' sweet tweets and love stories

With Valentine's day upon us again, The Local called for messages from the star-crossed lovers of Sweden, who sent us their loving letters and sweet tweets in a celebration of love in Sweden. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Swedish tourist halted for having 'terrorist name'

Swedish tourist halted for having 'terrorist name'

A Swedish man set to take off on his "dream holiday" to Mexico was turned away before boarding, as flight officials claimed he shared the name of a wanted terrorist. READ (18 COMMENTS) »

Swedish man suspected of 'kidnapping himself'

A 29-year-old man in northern Sweden has been remanded into custody together with an accomplice after trying to extort money from his parents by pretending he had been kidnapped. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

Sweden at ’real risk’ of terror: government

Sweden at ’real risk’ of terror: government

The Swedish Government has penned a new terror strategy, upgrading Sweden’s risk status since the last plan four years ago, calling for an ‘inter-agency cooperation’ in the fight to counter terror in Sweden. READ (11 COMMENTS) »

More Politics

Highlights from Follow Sweden

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »

Find a new job in Sweden now
14/02 Data Warehouse Developer for DONG Energy IT
DONG Energy
Gentofte
14/02 Software Engineer (.NET) - Limited Contract
Monster
Prague
14/02 Software Engineer - Online
EA DICE
Stockholm
14/02 UX Engineer
Monster
Prague
14/02 Business Controller
Michael page
Göteborg
14/02 Purchasing Program Manager
Volvo
Göteborg

ALL JOBS »



Blog Update: Julie's Nordic Island

12 February 21:30

The consciousness of one »

"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »

Highlights
Photo: Rachel Davies/Flickr
DATING »
The Local helps shed some light on the tantalizing mystery known as the strong, silent Nordic type.
The Local
SOCIETY »
The Local's Oliver Gee finds out why the star of Sweden's version of 'The Office' thinks Sweden is the most PC country in the world
Micheal Brauer/Flickr (File)
SCIENCE & TECH »
'Drunkorexia' on the rise in Sweden: report
Alexander Lervik and Johan Carper
LIFESTYLE »
Seven Swedish designs that will blow your mind
Eva Rinadi Celebrity and Live Music Photography/Flickr
SOCIETY »
Star Wars in Swedish causes fan outrage
www.dotoday.se
LIFESTYLE »
What's On: The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
OLIKA Publishing
OPINION »
The Swedish language needs a new pronoun free of preconceived notions about gender, a Swedish linguist and representatives from a publishing house argue
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
SOCIETY »
Madonna set for July 4th concert in Sweden
TV4
GALLERY »
An inside look at 'The Office' in Swedish
Georgios M.W (File)
SOCIETY »
Swedish mother gave 3-year-old cigs and beer
Photo: Fredrik Persson/Scanpix
SOCIETY »
A duvet cover designed to look like cardboard boxes, on sale at a luxury department store in Stockholm, has some arguing that the city's homeless are being exploited for profit.
Ann Catrin Brockman/Flickr (File)
LIFESTYLE »
Five Swedish songs that never made Eurovision
Q&A with Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley
LIFESTYLE »
Swenglish comedy star Ben Kersley explains how ‘three bespectacled English guys’ plan to make Swedes laugh
Photo: Screenshot YouTube
SOCIETY »
Move over Bugs – a Swedish bunny is rapidly becoming the most popular rabbit in the world!
Photo: Sony Pictures
SPONSORED ARTICLE
How Millennium films tap deep into Swedish angst
Photo: Helena Wahlman
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Braving the cold: Ten reasons to spend winter in Sweden
Photo: ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin
Highlights from Follow Sweden
Swedish word of the day

fin

adjective

Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Blog
Highlights from Follow Sweden
New book about Sweden – get to know the country

Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.

Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

Jobs in Sweden, in English

522 jobs available
250 new jobs this week
45 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com