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University of Asmara Appeals on Behalf of Detained Exchange Students
The president of the University of Asmara, Dr. WoldeAb Yisak, has appealed to UNESCO, the International Association of Universities, and the Association of African Universities to obtain the release of University of Asmara students who were on a student exchange program at the University of Addis Abeba and who now find themselves in custody at Fiche military camp outside Addis Abeba.
Dr. WoldeAb Yisak is also making a more general call for assistance to all concerned individuals. He says, "I would like to appeal to all of you to use your good offices in whatever possible way, such as through your governments, through your national or European universities associations, to put pressure on the Ethiopian authorities to release these innocent students unconditionally. Such acts, in my opinion, must be condemned because, if they pass unchallenged, they will probably place the whole student exchange programme at a much greater risk than has been witnessed before."
In his July 7, 1998, letter to UNESCO, the IAU and the AAU, the president of the University of Asmara provided the following background information:
"In 1994/95 the Governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a bilateral agreement on cultural and educational affairs ... On the basis of this agreement during the past three academic years (1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98) each party had been entitled to send thirty students per year to each other's undergraduate academic programmes. To date we have 85 Eritrean students who have been studying at the University of Addis Ababa while the Ethiopians had only 46 students who had been studying at the University of Asmara.
In spite of the current political tensions between the two countries, the University of Asmara has persisted in meeting its international academic obligations by ensuring the safety and comfort of the Ethiopian students. It has allowed the students to complete their courses and exams for the current academic year. It further has provided the students with their summer stipends and travel allowances so that their departure home can be facilitated. However, when their scheduled departure was delayed by about three weeks by the Ethiopian authorities..., the University allowed all the students the use of its dormitory facilities free of charge during the waiting period ... the normal expected services and facilities had been extended to our foreign students even during periods of political tension. I am now pleased to indicate that the 46 Ethiopian students had safely flown to Ethiopia on Friday, July 3, 1998.
On the other hand, we have been unable to obtain official information about the 85 University of Asmara students from the University nor from the government authorities in Ethiopia. We have received information from our Embassy in Addis Ababa which was independently confirmed by members of the International Committee of the Red Cross that all of our students, with the exception of three female students, are under custody in a military camp at Fiche ... These students have been denied the right to sit for their final examinations and worse still have been stripped of their basic human rights since they are locked in prison for no crime other than being Eritrean nations. It is a tragic state of affairs when political tensions overflow to victimize peaceful students who are guests of the academic institution
.. Such acts, which are morally, ethically and legally wrong, should not be tolerated ..."
A full list of the detained students, with their field and year, follows:
Abdulhamid Musanur Abrar, Statistics, 3rd
Abraham Fesehaye Gebresadik, History, 4th
Adimaseghed Mesfun Belay, Geology, 4th
Amanuel Okube Haile, Library Science, 3rd
Andom Kubrom Tesfaghabir, Geology, 4th
Asmerom Teclezghi T/Berhan, Agricultural Engineering, 4th
Awet Tewelde Woldemichael, History, 4th
Bahlbi Andemariam Abraha, Medical Technology, 2nd
Bereket Adha Habteselassie, Medicine, 4th
Bereket Chimar Amaha, Agricultural Engineering, 4th
Bereket Kiflay Adhanom, Educational Psychology, 3rd
Binega Adhanom Markos, Medical Technology, 2nd
Biniam Berhe Tewolde, Political Science, 3rd
Biniam Fessehaye T/Tsion, Pharmacy, 2nd
Biniam Kefela O/Michael, Engineering, 4th
Biniam Ogbamichael Gebreab, Engineering, 4th
Brook Tesfay Debas, History, 3rd
Btesfa Yikeallo Habteselassie, Pharmacy, 2nd
Butsuamlak Hadish Tekeste, Computer Science, 2nd
Danile Ghebremichael Tecle, Medicine, 4th
Deglel Habti Aibu, Mechanical Engineering, 3rd
Efreim Ghebreleul Hailu, Educational Administration, 3rd
Essayas Sahlezghi Kifle, Computer Science, 3rd
Estifanos Haile Ghebremichael, Geology, 4th
Feseha Yohannes Habtesion, Environmental Health Technology, 2nd
Filmon Tsighe Tesfaselassie, Mechanical Engineering, 3rd
Fitsum Mebrahtu Kahsai, Electrical Engineering, 2nd
Frezghi Dawit Kidane, History, 3rd
Ghebrekidan Zecarias Teklemariam, Statistics, 3rd
Ghebriele Ghebrebrhan Zerizghi, Education, 4th
Ghirmay Kiros Gebretinsae, Geography, 3rd
Habtom Tecle Tesfu, Library Science, 3rd
Habtom Tesfaghebriel, Medicine, 2nd
Hagos Ghebremicael Tecle, Education, 4th
Hebret Haileab Bokru, Environmental Health Technology, 2nd
Henok Russom Fessahaye, Geology, 4th
Hisham Zein El Abdir Yasin, Medicine, 4th
Kaleab Sebhat Menker, Health Science (Jimma), 2nd
Kibrom Gebrehiwot Weldegabriel, Computer Science, 2nd
Medhanie Asrat Medhin, Statistics, 3rd
Mehari Sium Frezghi, Agricultural Engineering, 4th
Merdia Mohammed Abdereshid, Medicine, 4th
Merhatinsae G/Mariam G/Yesus, Medicine, 4th
Michael Berhane Tesfatsion, Education, 4th
Michael Berhe Sahle, Agricultural Engineering, 4th
Michael Tewoldemedhin Gebreselasie, Geography, 3rd
Muluberhan Fitwi Zeresenay, Geography, 3rd
Mulugheta Tsehaye Mirach, Political Science, 3rd
Mussie Beraki Demoz, Medicine, 2nd
Mussie Ghirmai Habte, Medical Technology, 2nd
Neamen Yohannes Teclebrhan, Environmental Health Technology, 2nd
Negash Habte Debas, Library Science, 3rd
Paulos Zekarias Ghebreselassie, Education, 4th
Saba Tesfayohannes Kidane, Political Science, 3rd
Samson Tesfu Tekle, Engineering, 4th
Seare Haile Rezenom, Engineering, 4th
Simon Tesfamichael Tombosa, Pharmacy, 2nd
Simret Tecle Ghebremichael, Pharmacy, 3rd
Tedros Yosief Andemichael, Engineering, 4th
Tekesteberhan Mehreteab Kidane, Agricultural Engineering, 2nd
Teklehaimanot Tewelde Beraki, Architecture, 2nd
Teklit Keleta Oankay, Agricultural Engineering, 2nd
Temesgen Kibrom Weldeab, Political Science, 3rd
Temesgen Shibabaw Belew, Library Science, 2nd
Tesfaldet Kiflemariam Yohannes, Mechanical Engineering, 2nd
Tesfalem Kesete Ghebreab, Computer Science, 3rd
Tesfalem Tekleab Araia, History, 3rd
Tesfamariam Amare Mehari, Pharmacy, 3rd
Tesfay Teame Gebretsadik, Library Science, 3rd
Tesfazghi Gernet Tecle, Agricultural Engineering, 4th
Thomas Fitwi Adagish, Electrical Engineering, 2nd
Tsegay Bein Habtemariam, Chemical Engineering, 2nd
Weldesilase Hidray Ghebreyesus, Statistics, 3rd
Woldekidan Zekarias Teclamariam, Computer Science, 2nd
Yohannes Tecleab Habtemichael, Mechanical Engineering, 2nd
Yonas Tekie Idris, History, 3rd
Yonas Tesfazghi Weldeslasie, Computer Science, 3rd
Yonas Yemane Weldemichael, Educational Administration, 3rd
Yonatan Tecle Berhe, Library Science, 2nd
Yosief Solomon Marcos, Chemical Engineering, 2nd
Yosief Weldeghiorghis Kesete, Mechanical Engineering, 3rd
Yosief Woldu Araya, Medicine, 2nd
Zerabruk Tesamariam Kidane, Health Science (Jimma), 2nd
For further information, contact:
University of Asmara, PO Box 1220, Asmara, Eritrea Tel: ++291-1-161926, Fax: ++291-1-162236
July 23, 1998