CPJ meets with ambassador over journalists

A delegation from the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) met with the Eritrean ambassador to the US Gima Asmeron in Washington on 13 June to express concern for 15 journalists alleged to have been jailed or forcibly conscripted for military service. In a press release on Wednesday, CPJ said it had first raised the issue in a letter to Eritrean Justice Minister Fawzia Hashim on 7 June. During the meeting, the Eritrean ambassador said he viewed press freedom “essential to Eritrea’s stability”, the CPJ said. He added that Eritrea was “moving toward a constitutional democracy, and the press laws are going to be revised and improved after that process is completed”. Meanwhile, a statement issued on 11 June by the US Embassy of Eritrea, Washington DC, said the Eritrean Minister of Justice Fawzia Hashim had replied to false accusations by the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The statement quoted a letter of reply sent to the CPJ by the minister. Of the whereabouts of the 15 journalists identified by the CPJ, the minister said “Temesgan Gebreyessus and Medhanie Haile are working for Keste Debena, Said Abdlkader Ahmedin is working for Hadas Eritrea, Dawit Ghebreab is working for Wintana and Daniel Kesete is working in the Research Section of the National Union of Eritrean Women.” The justice minister said the remaining journalists were fulfilling their “national service obligation” which was required of all Eritrean citizens.