The Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Referring to the case of the above-mentioned parliamentarians, former members of Eritrea’s National Assembly who have been held incommunicado since 18 September 2001 (often referred to as the “G11”), as outlined in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/188/13(b)‑R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 187th session (October 2010),

Taking into account information provided by the European Commission by letter dated 17 December 2010,

Recalling that the former parliamentarians concerned - the so-called G11 - have been held incommunicado ever since September 2001, and that concerns have been regularly voiced about their state of health,

Considering that, according to non-governmental sources, on 3 April 2010, Mr. Eyob Bahta Habtemariam, a former prison guard who fled Eritrea, stated in an interview with Radio Wegahta that only two of the 11 former parliamentarians were still alive, namely Mr. Petros Solomon and Mr. Haile Woldetensae, the others having died since 2001, and that he provided the following details in this respect: in mid-2003 the entire group of political detainees was moved to the newly built high-security Era’eRo prison; Mr. Ogbe Abraha attempted to commit suicide, but his life was saved after urgent medical treatment lasting three months in Glass, a military hospital close to Keren; however, his health further deteriorated as he was already suffering from asthma, which led to his death shortly after his return to Embatkala prison in 2002; Mr. Mahmoud Ahmed Sheriffo died in 2003 for want of urgent medical treatment; similarly, in the absence of any medical assistance, Mr. Aster Fissehatsion and Mr. Saleh Kekiya died in June 2003 as a result of the hot weather; Mr. Germano Nati died in June 2009; as to Mr. Haile Woldetensae, he has lost his eyesight and is emaciated,

Considering that this information is unconfirmed and that, according to one of the sources, no concrete evidence exists to support the prison guard’s statements; noting also that the European Commission regularly raises the case of the former parliamentarians concerned with the Eritrean authorities, also in the framework of political dialogue; that, however, during the most recent session of political dialogue on human rights in September 2010, the Eritrean side refused to discuss individual cases,

1. Is deeply concerned at the allegation that only two of the 11 former parliamentarians concerned may still be alive, and believes that this allegation must be taken seriously;

2. Is appalled that the Eritrean authorities refuse even to provide information on whether the former parliamentarians concerned are still alive; appeals to all member parliaments to take whatever initiatives they can to obtain official information on the fate of the G11 prisoners;

3. Also requests the Committee and the Secretary General to continue their efforts to this end, inter alia by renewing appeals to the Eritrean authorities, and contacts with the competent authorities of the European Union and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly;

4. Calls on the Eritrean authorities to release Mr. Petros Solomon and Mr. Haile Woldetensae immediately, in addition to the other members of the Group whom they may still be holding;

5. Requests the Committee to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session, to be held on the occasion of the 125th IPU Assembly (October 2011).

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