US Slams Eritrea Over
Human Rights
The
United States says Eritrea’s systematic abuses of human rights
are destabilising influence.
In its annual human rights country report, the U.S. State
Department accused Eritrea of sponsoring terrorism in North
Eastern Africa and acting as a source and conduit for arms to
insurgents in Somalia.
The report alleges that the capital city, Asmara oversaw
unlawful killings by its security forces, routine beatings and
torture, arbitrary arrests, as well as severely restricted
freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association and
religion.
The report said consistent and systemic gross human rights
violations persisted unabated at the government's behest
throughout 2009.
Asmara says there is no concrete evidence for the allegations,
accusing Washington of inventing statistics and interfering in
the region.
She blames years of intrusive U.S. foreign policy as a cause of
the conflict in Somalia.
Strained ties
Ties between the United States and Eritrea have been severely
strained by a series of accusations and counter-accusations.
In February, the U.S. embassy suspended its consular services
and last week issued a travel warning, referring to a rise in
anti-U.S. sentiment among Eritreans.
Eritrea then accused Washington of trying to create chaos in the
country.
Asmara has still not officially recognised the U.S. ambassador
and the state-owned media are running a sustained campaign
against what they say are decades of U.S. persecution.
The United States sees Eritrea as an enemy in the fight against
Islamist radicalisation, alleging support for the al
Qaeda-linked Somali militant group al Shabab.
Reuters/Williams/Yinka
