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Families Hold Out Hope for Eritrea's Disappeared Journalists

Salem Solomon

   They haven't heard from their loved ones in nearly two decades, but the
   families of imprisoned journalists in Eritrea still hold out hope after
   [1]authorities freed several prisoners after 26 years.

   One of the journalists held incommunicado for nearly 20 years is
   Amanuel Asrat. The editor of Zemen, a newspaper that covered the arts
   and literature, has been detained since September 2001, without any
   contact with the outside world. No charges have been made public
   against him or other journalists jailed at the same time.

   His brother, Robel Asrat, said the family has demanded answers from
   Eritrean officials about Amanuel's whereabouts but have heard nothing
   concrete.

   "The government just wants those people to be erased from the memory of
   everyone just to keep silent," Robel told VOA. "Like they never
   existed. We don't have any other information about them besides the
   rumors. But his work and legacy live on."

   Amanuel is one of several journalists arrested in a widespread
   crackdown on independent media in 2001.'¯The group were detained after
   publishing a letter to President Isaias Afwerki that called for
   government reform.

References

   1. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eritrea-politics-religion-idUKKBN28H1J6

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