Arrested US embassy staff revealed "sensitive information"

The Eritrean government believes that two US embassy locally recruited staff members arrested in the capital, Asmara, on 11 October, had been translating "sensitive" government documents and reports in local newspapers for the US government, and giving away too much information from local sources, diplomats in Asmara told IRIN on Tuesday. Although the arrests occurred on the day the US government criticized Eritrea for cracking down on opponents, the government spokesman, Yemane Gebremeskel, told the BBC on 12 October that the arrests were unconnected with the US criticism. "It has nothing to do with US policy. It is a local matter relating to other activities," the BBC quoted Yemane saying. The staff members, Ali al-Amin and Kiflon Gebremikael, who worked in the embassy's economic and political sections, are yet to be charged in a court of law. The US embassy was denied access to them, but sent a diplomatic note to President Isayas Aferwerki. The arrests appeared to be a continuation of the government crackdown on its critics, AP reported on Monday. Since 18 September, the Eritrean government has detained an undisclosed number of people, including 11 senior members of the ruling party, among them some former cabinet ministers and journalists. The government also closed down eight private newspapers. Neither the politicians nor the journalists arrested have been charged in a court of law. After the initial arrests, the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) member states, led by Italy's envoy and EU representative, Antonio Bandini, protested against human rights violations. The Eritrean government reacted by expelling Bandini. On 8 October, the EU reacted in turn by recalling all its envoys "for consultations", and they are yet to return. More arrests took place a week later. On 12 October, the US added its voice to the protests against human rights violations in a statement issued from Asmara. The two embassy local staff members were arrested that day.