Eritrea: Demonstration in Asmara in April 1993 by former Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) fighters; arrests of participants and organizers
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 24 July 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ERT34931.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Eritrea: Demonstration in Asmara in April 1993 by former Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) fighters; arrests of participants and organizers, 24 July 2000, ERT34931.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad5a3c.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific references to an April 1993 demonstration in Asmara by former EPLF fighters are scarce among the sources consulted at the Resource Directorate. According to a 18 November 1994 Africa Confidential report, "problems in the military date back to the eve of the Independence referendum in April 1993, when soldiers demonstrated after being told they would have to do another two years' unpaid work" (6). Swiss Review of World Affairs also reported that "shortly before the referendum on independence [April 23-25], 10,000 ex-guerrillas occupied the Asmara airport, forcing Eritrean President Issaias Afewerki to personally request an end to the action" (2 Oct. 1995). Following the demonstration,
more than 100 alleged ringleaders were secretly court martialledat least 50 received gaol sentences of over four years and most others, of one to three years. Issayas later said the sentences were too light. After a thoroughgoing purge of the army, hundreds of fighters were given harsh sentences, some of them served in old EPLF prisoner-of-war camps (Africa Confidential 18 Nov. 1994, 6).
Swiss Review of World Affairs reported that 137 ringleaders were arrested and given jail sentences of between 15 and 20 years (2 Oct. 1995).
There are also reports of a similar demonstration in Asmara in May 1993 (AFP 21 May 1993; AP 24 May 1993; ARB May 1993, 10996; Europa 1994 1994, 1066; LCHR July 1994, 103). In response to an announcement by the EPLF-led government that the fighters would continue to be paid in rations rather than cash for another two years, "several units [of soldiers] broke out and seized the airport, banks and other vital installations in a protest to demand cash salaries" (ARB May 1993, 10996). The demonstration was reported to be non-violent and orderly and the city was calm on the following day (AFP 21 May 1993; Europa 1994 1994, 1066). At a 21 May 1993 press conference, reportedly one day after the demonstration, Afewerki called the demonstrations "illegal" and "shameful" (LCHR July 1994, 103).
No reports of arrests, charges or jail sentences following the May 1993 demonstration could be found among the source consulted at the Research Directorate, although in a speech marking the fourth anniversary of Eritrea's independence, Afewerki announced "an amnesty for nearly all the combatants who took part in the mutiny of 20th May 1993 " (Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea 24 May 1995). No further details are given.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Africa Confidential [London]. 18 November 1994. Vol. 35, No. 23. "Eritrea: Guerrillas and Government."
Africa Research Bulletin (ARB) [Oxford]. 1-31 May 1993. Vol. 30, No. 5. "Eritrea: Profile."
Agence France Presse (AFP). 21 May 1993. "Former Eritrean Independence Fighters Demonstrate for Wages." (NEXIS)
Associated Press (AP). 24 May 1993. Abebe Andualem. "Eritrea Formally Declares Independence, Statehood." (NEXIS)
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights (LCHR). July 1994. Critique: Review of the Department of State County Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. New York: LCHR.
The Europa World Year Book 1994. 1994. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.
Swiss Review of World Affairs. 2 October 1995. "Ethiopia and Eritrea: The Fruits of Division." (NEXIS)
Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea [Asmara, in Tigrigna]. 24 May 1995. "President Announces Amnesty for 'Nearly All' Involved in 1993 Mutiny." (BBC Summary 26 May 1995).
Additional Sources Consulted
Africa Report [New York].
Amnesty International. Annual Reports.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. Annual. Department of State. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala, Sweden].
Horn Reports [Ottawa].
Human Rights Watch. Yearly. Human Rights Watch World Report. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris].
IRB Databases
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1993.
New Africa [London].
Internet Sites including:
Africa News Online
Africa Policy Information Centre
Eritrean War Disabled Fighters Association
Federation of American Scientists
Post Express Wired
World News Connection (WNC)
Search engines including:
