HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN ERITREA

Early day motion 209, tabled 4 December 2003 by David Drew (Labour/Co-operative). Signed by 107 members.

That this House recognises the achievements of the Government and people of Eritrea in nation-building at the time of independence and subsequently; notes, however, that over recent years the Government of Eritrea has been responsible for widespread human rights abuses; notes with concern that this has included the targeting by the Government of Eritrea of journalists, politicians and students for holding dissident views, with a number being arrested and detained without trial, and that since September 2001 there has been no independent media in Eritrea; expresses grave concern over the arrest, beatings and torture and death threats meted out to hundreds of evangelical, charismatic and Pentecostal Christians, especially during 2003; notes that examples of this include one group of Christians held for 15 days in metal containers designed to serve as severe punishment cells, leading to near suffocation; notes with particular concern reports that several young Christians in the armed forces have been shot after being discovered reading the Bible; is further concerned that other punishments suffered by Christian conscripts in the military include severe beatings, sexual assault and being rolled in 44 gallon drums, leading in some cases to partial paralysis; further notes the enforced closure of dozens of churches since May 2002; calls upon the Government of Eritrea to honour the international human rights treaties to which it is a party; and urges the British Government to place these concerns at the heart of bilaterial talks with Eritrea.

Signatures by party: Labour 45, Liberal Democrat 26, Conservative 19, Labour/Co-operative 8, DUP 4, Independent Conservative 1, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.