"No evidence" of repatriated Eritreans being tortured - government

There was no evidence that the Eritreans sent back to their homeland after arriving in Malta had been tortured, the Home Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

A ministry spokesman said "reliable contacts" in Eritrea had dismissed claims that the deported Eritreans were detained and tortured in prison upon arrival.

On Thursday, Amnesty International called on the government to suspend the deportation of Eritreans until a thorough independent investigation had been conducted into their fate and an assessment made as to whether Eritreans can be forcibly returned in safety and dignity.

Up to 223 Eritreans were deported by the government between September 30 and October 3.

Amnesty International said on Thursday that the deported Eritreans were immediately arrested on arrival in Asmara and taken to a military camp, detained and prevented from making contact with the outside world.

But the Home Ministry spokesman said the claims were being made by a London-based movement whose main interest was to create unrest in Eritrea.

The spokesman reiterated that the government would only grant refugee status to bone fide asylum seekers.

Of the 223 who were repatriated, 170 had not applied for refugee status.

The spokesman said the illegal immigrants had been repeatedly informed of their right to apply and were also told about the possible consequences should they decide not to seek refugee status.

The government explained that the applications filed by the 53 illegal immigrants seeking refugee status had been rejected on the grounds that they did not meet the necessary criteria according to Maltese law, which was modelled on the 1951 convention drawn up by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Each applicant was served with a memorandum listing the reasons why the application was rejected.

"The government has treated each case on its own merits. Each individual who applied for refugee status was interviewed for two hours," the spokesman said.

He said the government had no control over someone who was facing criminal charges in Eritrea.

"But we will defend anybody whom we know will face political persecution because of creed," he said.

Amnesty International warned of the disturbing human rights situation in Eritrea. In a report published on September 18, it documented the numerous arbitrary and secret detentions without charge or trial.

Conscription is continuing in Eritrea even since the Ethiopian war ended in 2000, and all Eritrean men and women aged 18 to 40 were liable to military service, with no recognition of the right to conscientious objection, Amnesty warned.

"Those caught are reportedly arrested; tortured by beatings and being tied up for hours with their arms tied tightly behind their backs, restricting the blood flow and sometimes leading to paralysis or permanent injury."

Under national service regulations, the punishment for evading conscription is up to three years imprisonment, but the penalty for desertion in time of war could be death.

Amnesty is concerned that the recent announcement of cessation of refugee status for some Eritreans sent a confusing message about conditions in Eritrea.

Last May, the UNHCR announced the partial cessation of refugee status for Eritrean Refugees for two categories - those who had been refugees during the 30-year Eritrean liberation war prior to Eritrea's independence from Ethiopia in 1991, and those who had fled during the later border war with Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000.

When contacted yesterday, Amnesty International Africa researcher Martin Hill said sources had reported that the immigrants deported from Malta had been detained on their arrival.

"To our knowledge these have not been released as yet," Mr Hill said, though he would not reveal Amnesty's sources.

He said many of those fleeing Eritrea wanted to evade being conscripted into the army.

A spokesman for the UNHCR said yesterday there was no blanket rule regarding Eritreans and each case had to be treated on its merits.

"Illegal immigrants do not have valid cases for leaving their homeland unless they stand to be persecuted."

The spokesman said the UNHCR was not involved in the repatriation of those who were refused refugee status.