ERINA Update
(Eritrean News Agency,
Tel: ++291-1-117627, Fax: 127385)
Tuesday, August 24, 1999
Eritrean Killed, Seven Others
Wounded in Malawi
The Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement "strongly
condemning" the death of an Eritrean national and the injuring of seven
others in Malawi. The statement said it was seeking clarification
from the
government of Malawi regarding the death of the Eritrean and the forced
repatriation of the remaining 24 to Ethiopia. The statement said the
Eritrean government had, through shuttle diplomacy, been in contact
with the
Malawi government regarding the case of the 25 Eritreans who came from
Ethiopia where they had been detained because of their Eritrean nationality.
The Eritreans were to be deported from Malawi under accusations of
falsified
documents despite reports from Addis Ababa that they had been issued
with
visas from the Malawi Embassy at a price of $1,000 each. "Eritrea's
representative had assured the government of Malawi that Eritrea would
accept responsibility for the 25 nationals who he expressly asked not
be
sent back to Ethiopia from where they had just come and where Eritreans
remain in danger," the statement said. ICRC officials have confirmed
that
the deceased Eritrean died as a result of gunshot wounds despite claims
by
the Malawi government that he died of a previous illness.