Assembly discussing "treason"

The Eritrean National Assembly continued its deliberations on Tuesday with a discussion on the country's "internal political challenges", Eritrean radio reported on Wednesday. The session, which was opened earlier in the day by President Isayas Afewerki, discussed a report which "noted that a few former government and Front [ruling People's Front for Democracy and Justice] officials had committed treason by abandoning the very values and principles the Eritrean people fought for". In September last year, Isayas ordered the detention of 11 prominent dissidents who had criticised the government, and closed down the private press accusing it of undermining national unity. Three more dissidents are outside the country and face probable arrest if they return. The report accused them of "putting their own interests before the interests of the country and the people, by becoming involved in corruption, by panicking at a tough time [during the war with Ethiopia] and by bowing to foreigners". It said they had "completely betrayed" the country. According to the radio, the National Assembly decided that "the treason should be made public for everyone to know". Official sources told IRIN the real issues were the "timing and the motives" of the dissidents' remarks, made at a time "when the country should be united in the face of the threat from Ethiopia". The international rights organisation, Human Rights Watch, accuses President Isayas of "governing by proclamation, unrestrained by a transitional national assembly that meets infrequently". It said a constitution "with provisions for creating civil liberties" was adopted in 1997, but never implemented. According to HRW, there is "no effective mechanism for questioning, much less challenging, government policy and operations". Government officials challenge this view, by noting that the National Assembly will discuss pertinent issues such as the draft laws on elections and political parties, the country's first official national budget and the freedom of the press. Observers say attention will be focused on whether the National Assembly will lift the ban on the private press. Eritrea's deputy ambassador to Kenya, Temedhin Temariam, said the private press is "under temporary suspension only". "As soon as lessons have been learnt that the country comes before individuals, the private press will recommence," he told IRIN.