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Torture and Other Rights Abuses Are Widespread in Eritrea, U.N. Panel Says Torture and Other Rights Abuses Are Widespread in Eritrea, U.N. Panel Says
(35 minutes later)
GENEVA — President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea has imposed a reign of fear through systematic and extreme abuses of the population that may amount to crimes against humanity, a panel of United Nations investigators said on Monday.GENEVA — President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea has imposed a reign of fear through systematic and extreme abuses of the population that may amount to crimes against humanity, a panel of United Nations investigators said on Monday.
The harsh actions of the government had prompted hundreds of thousands of Eritreans to flee the country, a major driver of the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, the panel concluded. The harsh actions of the government have prompted hundreds of thousands of Eritreans to flee the country, a major driver of the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, the panel concluded.
“We seldom see human rights violations of the scope and scale as we see in Eritrea today,” Sheila B. Keetharuth, one of three members of a United Nations commission of inquiry, told journalists in Geneva.“We seldom see human rights violations of the scope and scale as we see in Eritrea today,” Sheila B. Keetharuth, one of three members of a United Nations commission of inquiry, told journalists in Geneva.
Torture, extrajudicial executions, disappearances, forced labor and sexual violence are widespread and systematic, the panel said in a report that it will present to the United Nations Human Rights Council this month.Torture, extrajudicial executions, disappearances, forced labor and sexual violence are widespread and systematic, the panel said in a report that it will present to the United Nations Human Rights Council this month.
Those mainly responsible included the 69-year old Mr. Afwerki, who has governed Eritrea since it gained independence in 1993, and the security services working for him, the commission concluded after a yearlong investigation. Those responsible include the 69-year old Mr. Afwerki, who has governed Eritrea since it gained independence in 1993, and the security services working for him, the commission concluded after a yearlong investigation.
The brutal tactics employed by the government were “the tragic product of an initial desire to protect and ensure the survival of the young state that very quickly degenerated into the use of totalitarian practices,” the panel said in its report.The brutal tactics employed by the government were “the tragic product of an initial desire to protect and ensure the survival of the young state that very quickly degenerated into the use of totalitarian practices,” the panel said in its report.
Ms. Keetharuth said: “It is not surprising to us that these days a large proportion of those crossing the Mediterranean and using other irregular routes to reach Europe are Eritrean.”Ms. Keetharuth said: “It is not surprising to us that these days a large proportion of those crossing the Mediterranean and using other irregular routes to reach Europe are Eritrean.”
“They are fleeing a country ruled not by law but by fear,” she added.“They are fleeing a country ruled not by law but by fear,” she added.
Although Eritrean authorities had imposed draconian measures to stop people from leaving the country, including a shoot-to-kill policy operated for many years in border areas, thousands continue to flee each month.Although Eritrean authorities had imposed draconian measures to stop people from leaving the country, including a shoot-to-kill policy operated for many years in border areas, thousands continue to flee each month.
Most headed to neighboring countries, but Eritreans amounted to nearly a quarter of the migrants reaching Europe after perilous crossings from Libya last year, the International Organization for Migration has reported.Most headed to neighboring countries, but Eritreans amounted to nearly a quarter of the migrants reaching Europe after perilous crossings from Libya last year, the International Organization for Migration has reported.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that as of April 21, 36,390 migrants had reached Greece, Italy and Malta via the Mediterranean Sea, with at least 1,776 dead or missing. As of April 21, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported,36,390 migrants have reached Greece, Italy and Malta via the Mediterranean Sea, with at least 1,776 dead or missing.
It said the largest group of those seeking refuge by nationality were Syrians, at 8,865, followed by 3,363 Eritreans, 2,908 Somalis and 2,371 Afghans. The International Organization for Migration has warned that the number of migrant deaths on the Mediterranean this year could surpass 30,000.It said the largest group of those seeking refuge by nationality were Syrians, at 8,865, followed by 3,363 Eritreans, 2,908 Somalis and 2,371 Afghans. The International Organization for Migration has warned that the number of migrant deaths on the Mediterranean this year could surpass 30,000.
The exodus from Eritrea has been driven by an Orwellian system of mass surveillance, arbitrary detention and a brutal system of conscription that amounted to indefinite slavery, the investigators found.The exodus from Eritrea has been driven by an Orwellian system of mass surveillance, arbitrary detention and a brutal system of conscription that amounted to indefinite slavery, the investigators found.
“Information collected on people’s activities, their supposed intentions and even conjectured thoughts is used to rule through fear in a country where individuals are routinely arbitrarily arrested and detained, tortured, disappeared or extrajudicially executed,” the panel’s report said.“Information collected on people’s activities, their supposed intentions and even conjectured thoughts is used to rule through fear in a country where individuals are routinely arbitrarily arrested and detained, tortured, disappeared or extrajudicially executed,” the panel’s report said.
The panel members, who were refused entry to Eritrea, relied on 550 interviews with Eritrean witnesses and another 160 written submissions, but they found that many potential witnesses declined to testify out of fear that they were being monitored and that they risked jeopardizing their own or family members’ safety. The panel members, who were refused entry to Eritrea, relied on 550 interviews with Eritrean witnesses and 160 written submissions, but they found that many potential witnesses declined to testify out of fear that they were being monitored and that they risked jeopardizing their own or family members’ safety.
The government “systematically silences anyone who is perceived as protesting against, questioning or expressing criticism” and maintained a “vast” network of detention sites, many of them secret or unofficial, in which the security services incarcerated people without trial or any form of judicial review, the report found.The government “systematically silences anyone who is perceived as protesting against, questioning or expressing criticism” and maintained a “vast” network of detention sites, many of them secret or unofficial, in which the security services incarcerated people without trial or any form of judicial review, the report found.
Border controls were partly designed to prevent people evading national service in which “slavery-like practices” were routine, sexual violence against women was rife, and conscripts faced degrading treatment and abuses “on a scope and scale seldom witnessed anywhere else in the world,” the panel said. Border controls were partly intended to prevent people from evading national service in which “slavery-like practices” were routine, sexual violence against women was rife, and conscripts faced degrading treatment and abuses “on a scope and scale seldom witnessed anywhere else in the world,” the panel said.
The report urged other countries to offer protection to Eritrean asylum seekers and to respect the principle of providing refuge to people with a well-founded fear of persecution. With few exceptions, the panel said, Eritreans forced to return to their country were arrested, detained, and subjected to poor treatment and torture.The report urged other countries to offer protection to Eritrean asylum seekers and to respect the principle of providing refuge to people with a well-founded fear of persecution. With few exceptions, the panel said, Eritreans forced to return to their country were arrested, detained, and subjected to poor treatment and torture.