AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

Eighty-five Eritrean students studying in Ethiopia at the University of Addis Ababa were detained at an Ethiopian military base in southeast Ethiopia when hostilities broke out between the two countries in May 1998. Although most of the students have been released, as of 3 January 1999, 37 remained in detention.

The students were taking part in a bilateral exchange program sponsored by the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia. On 3 July 1998, the Eritrean government permitted the Ethiopian students to return home, while the Ethiopian government detained the Eritrean students, citing issues of national security.

The continued detention of more than thirty Eritrean students constitutes a violation of international, regional, and national human rights standards, including those listed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. They include:

Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

• Education shall promote understanding, tolerance, and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace (Article 26).

Under the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Ethiopia on 11 June 1993:

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person (Articles 9 and 25).

Under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adopted by the Organization of African Unity on 17 June 1981:

• Every individual shall have the right to liberty and to the security of his person. No one may be deprived of his freedom except for reasons and conditions previously laid down by law.

Under the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE):

• All persons in custody have the right to conditions which respect human dignity (Article 21).

(Sources of information for this alert include Human Rights Watch and the Association of Eritrean Professionals and Academics for Development.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes or airmail letters:

• Calling on the Ethiopian government to immediately and unconditionally release those students who continue to be detained; and
• urging the Ethiopian government to respect its obligations under the international and regional human rights treaties to which it is a State Party.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Dr. Negaso Gidada
President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Office of the President
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: 011-2511-55-07-22
Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES SENT TO:

Meles Zenawi
Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Prime Minister's Office
P.O. Box 1031
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia



Ambassador Berhane Gebre-Christos
Embassy of Ethiopia
2134 Kalorama Road, NW
Washington, DC 20008


Ambassador David H. Shinn
Embassy of the United States of America
P.O. Box 1014
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fax: 011 251 1 550 174

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