Eritrean News Agency (ERINA) Update
Sunday, June 14, 1998
1. The Government of Ethiopia has arrested hundreds of Eritreans all
over the country in a frenzied campaign of arbitrary detention in the past two days. It is also rounding up thousands of Eritreans from their homes and work places in Addis Abeba and dumping them in a makeshift camp called Janmeda in the capital in preparation for mass expulsion.
The Ethiopian government had announced on Friday that it will expel
Eritrean businessmen, professionals and community leaders under the spurious pretext that these law-abiding citizens pose "a security risk to Ethiopia." Those languishing in the camp pending expulsion are already exposed to rough weather and hunger. The Government of Eritrea calls upon the international community to strongly deplore this inhuman act.
2. Italian Undersecretary of State, Senator Rinno Serri, had a long
meeting with President Isaias Afwerki yesterday evening, June 13, 1998. The Italian Government is proposing a number of measures that can help in de-escalating the current tension and pave the way for serious negotiations on the core issues between the two sides. President Isaias Afwerki told the Italian envoy that the Government of Eritrea welcomes these measures and is prepared to observe them provided there is reciprocation from the Ethiopian side. President Isaias further reiterated Eritrea's proposal for the cessation of all hostilities and the start of direct talks at the highest levels. The Italian delegation left this morning to Addis Abeba.