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Please write a polite letter on your personal or institutional letterhead requesting that the 11 journalists be released - or copy the one below - and mail to His Excellency President Issaias Afeworki (postage 34�) and to the Ambassador Girma Asmerom (postage 34�). [Date]
H. E. President Issaias Afeworki Your Excellency, I am writing to express my grave and urgent concern about the imprisonment without charges of several journalists in your country. I am particularly concerned for the well being of nine journalists who have been on hunger strike since March 31, 2002: Yusuf Mohamed Ali, Mattewos Habteab, Dawit Habtemichael, Medhanie Haile, Temesgen Ghebreyesus, Emanuel Asrat, Dawit Isaac, Fesshaye Yohannes, Said Abdulkader. We are seriously concerned that these journalists, and their colleagues Selayinghes Beyene and Wedi Ade are being detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which your country has ratified. Please reconsider their cases and, in a spirit of humanity, facilitate their immediate release as a concrete demonstration of your commitment to reestablish freedom of expression in Eritrea. Sincerely, [Your name and signature]
Cc: His Excellency President Isaias Afeworki C/o Permanent Mission to the United Nations E-mail: [email protected] [NB: This e-mail box is sometimes full and you may need to try several times before your e-mail is accepted.] Mr Foazia Hashim Minister for Justice P.O. Box 241 Asmara, Eritrea Fax: +29 11 12 64 32 [NB: This fax machine is not always turned on.] His Excellency Mr Ghrimai Gheeremariam Embassy of the State of Eritrea 96 White Lion Street London, United Kingdom Fax: +44 20 7713 0161 Embassy of the State of Eritrea 15-17 Avenue de Wolvendael 1180 Brussels Belgium Fax: +32 2 372 0730 |