The observatory For the Respect of the Human Rights in
Djibouti
O.R.DH.D
17 rue Hoche 93100 Montreuil Sous
Bois France
Email : ordhd@hotmail.com
Press release
Mahmoud Ahmed Chehem (a Djiboutian National), Estifanos
Solomon (Eritrean, a driver) and two Eritrean army officers left Assab (Eritrea)
on December 26, 2004
for Obock (Djibouti)
where they were detained by the Djiboutian army. Mahmoud Ahmed Chehem, born in Moulhoulé (Djibouti)
and a Djibouti
citizen requested to be allowed to
come back to his country, while the three Eritreans asked for the political
asylum.
The Djiboutian authorities without studying the request
for political asylum and without taking account of Djiboutian citizenship of
Mahmoud Ahmed Chehem, handed over the four persons to the Eritrean military
officers on December 28, 2004 (two days after their arrival).
The four persons were held in secret places, and on May 17, 2005 they
were executed by the Eritrean regime without charge or trial. Their families
learned about this terrible news on September 7, 2007.
The observatory For the Respect of the Human Rights in
Djibouti
- Saddened by a scandalous action of Djiboutian regime for
extraditing its own citizen as well as three Eritrean nationals who fled
persecution with the knowledge that
the four persons will face execution in Eritrea
- Strongly condemns extradition of Mahmoud Ahmed Chehem, Estifanos Solomon and two Eritrean army
officers by the Djibouti government in contempt of the national laws of
Djibouti (that prohibit extradition of Djibouti citizens) and
international conventions (without considering political asylum request of
three Eritrean nationals, and depriving them of all contact with the UNHCR
in Djibouti).
- Condemns the barbaric executions of the four persons by the
Eritrean regime and the gross violations of Human Rights in this
country.
- URGES the International Community to put pressure on both the Eritrean and Djibouti governments to respect basic human rights and stop illegal
extraditions and extra judicial executions
THE OBSERVATORY (ORDHD)
S. BERNIER
Montreuil,
September 20, 2007