1. The AEJE is writing this press release concerning a matter of importance raised by alarming activities of a certain individual called Mr. Yonas Embaye who claims to have worked as a journalist in Eritrea. The above-mentioned individual has told fabricated story on various media outlets over the last couple of years, including the recent interview with BBC-outlook. He claims that he has been imprisoned along other journalists of the private newspapers in September 2001 crackdown. Mr. Yonas Embaye also claimed to have escaped the notoriously forbidding jail of PFDJ. Ever since he fled Eritrea, he has been in contact with various human group and individuals, and we found out he has also been receiving financial assistance on the ground that he was a persecuted journalist from Eritrea.
2. The Association of Eritrean Journalists in Exile (AEJE), herby, refutes his assertions one by one. We assert that even though we do appreciate and support his advocacy against persecution of Eritrean journalists, we categorically dismiss his claim of being a journalist in Eritrea before September 2001.
3. It is common knowledge that most of the journalists of the private papers were jailed in September and October 2001. They were detained FIRST in Embtakala and then sent to the infamous detention center, Eirairo, along with former government ministers and generals known as G-15. The rest of the journalist went into hiding or fled. Apart from the ten journalists who were arrested, we never came to hear about a journalist or freelancer named Mr. Yonas Embaye. Neither RSF, CPJ nor any media watch group have reported the name of Mr. Yonas Embaye in the list of the jailed journalists.
4. Fortunately, AEJE boasts membership of one or two of their erstwhile board members of almost all private newspapers that were shut down in September 2001. None of them recognizes Mr. Yonas Embaye as board member, writer or free-lancer. We have in our midst Milkias Mihereteab and Yosief Alazar of Keste-Debena, Aaron Berhane and Simret Seyoum of Setit, Ghezae Hagos and Yoseif Berhe of Zemen, Khaled Abdu of Admas (where Mr. Yonas Embaye claimed to have worked) and many other journalists. None of them can vouch for Mr. Yonas Embaye’s claim to journalism. AEJE also has members from governmental and other media outlets who would know or have heard of those involved in Eritrean journalism. Again, none of them can identify Mr. Yonas Embaye. Please see some of the members of AEJE below.
5. Moreover, Mr. Yonas Embaye claimed to have executed a successful prison break along with other prisoners. For the record, not a single journalist has escaped the detention centers of Embtakala, or Eirairo where our colleagues are slowly dying. Eirairo prison is located in impenetrable, highly guarded facility in North Eastern Eritrea not near Western Sudan, as Mr. Yonas Embaye insinuated. This fact can be corroborated by the recent revelation of former Eirairo guard Mr. Eyob Bahta Habtemariam who detailed the names of the prisoners and prison conditions of Embtakala and Eirairo since 2001. The guard’s revelations were taken largely as credible and it is noteworthy here to point out that he never mentioned the name of Mr. Yonas Embaye.
6. Ever since AEJE heard of Yonas Emabye, we have been investigating if his assertions were genuine. We have given him the chance to prove he was working as a journalist in Eritrea; however, he failed to do so. In our correspondences with him, he changed his versions endlessly. One time he claimed to have worked with Admas and at times with Setit. In one email message, he admitted to us that he has never been a journalist and that he was just a desperate refugee who was taking an advantage of the plight of the Eritrean journalists. We do understand the grim situation Eritrean refugees are in and we certainly sympathize with that. We believe Mr. Yonas Embaye should receive all the help he needs. But we can’t condone his assertions to have been a persecuted journalist in order to avail himself of assistance and protection.
7. Our Association, on account of its mandate and membership has written many support letters on behalf of many persecuted journalists. There are currently more than four of them in Uganda itself where Mr. Yonas Embaye resides. As a procedure, we mandatorily request the applicants for references to confirm their claims from the list we have or that we can contact. So far, versions of many applicants have checked out and we wrote support letters for them. To this day, Mr. Yonas Embaye couldn’t come up with a single name of any journalist to vouch for him. Knowing this, he instead shortcuts to directly contact unsuspecting organizations and take advantage of their services.
8. It is highly possible that Mr. Yonas Embaye could be one of the thousands victims of the ruthless Eritrean regime. Enslaved for life, thousands of Eritrean conscripts are languishing in detention centers that litter the country. He could have been unjustly detained even fled from prison. Many army conscripts have done so and they have heartbreaking story to tell. However we object in the strongest terms possible Mr. Yonas Embasye's naked lies to attain support from international organizations on behalf of Eritrean journalists. We wished Eritrean prisons were like those as described by Mr. Yonas Embaye: easy to escape and not well guarded. Mr. Yonas Embaye is adding an insult to the injury of Eritrean exiled journalists, to those who have been languishing in secret prisons without any sign of life for the last 10 years and to all the family members of the victims.
9. We at the AEJE, certainly applaud and encourage his advocacy on behalf of Eritrean journalists. It pains us to write against a person who holds posters of our incarcerated colleagues in streets of Kampala. Eritrean advocacy groups, like AEJE, needs people who speak up, and who agitate for the cause. There is no question about that. What is unacceptable to us and many advocates is to misuse this advocacy for private gain. In the claim of persecuted journalist, Mr. Yonas Embaye, through his misrepresentation and fraud, has given false witness to what is a noble and just cause. He diluted the true message of advocacy, thereby putting the credibility of our suffering and pain into question.
10. We are also saddened to learn Mr. Yonas Embaye has been receiving moral and financial support from individuals and organizations that sympathize with our cause. We have long known his true motives were to receive money and to resettle to the West. We can’t fail to understand why organizations, media outlets and individuals don’t hesitate to help the Mr. Yonas Embaye financially and morally. It emanates from the goodwill and eagerness to help the persecuted Eritrean journalists. And we duly take note of this act of generosity, a Good Samaritan’s recognition of the plight of Eritrean journalists. We certainly honor the intention. But we want to tell them there are true Eritrean journalists who need help in Ethiopia, the Sudan, Uganda, and other countries. And yes, Mr. Yonas Embaye is not one of them.
11. We want to assure you we have done everything to settle the matter with Mr. Yonas Emabye. We informed him we appreciate his advocacy but he should refrain from claiming to have been a journalist. However, he mistook our patience and plea for complacency and apathy. He has exhausted our patience to the degree we are forced to expose him for what he is. Mr. Yonas Embaye forgets he doesn’t have to be journalist to advocate for arrested and persecuted Eritrean journalists. He only needs to be a concerned citizen, unless he has other ulterior motive which is easily discernible.
12. Henceforth, our association would like to recommend to the media outlets, who published his story to remove from their archives and to refrain from entertaining his lies in the future. We also urge all international organizations and media outlets to first check with AEJE and known Eritrean journalists before airing unfounded stories like those of Mr. Yonas Embaye.
13. As journalists we stand to tell the truth. We want to reiterate that it would have not been necessary for us to issue a press release had Mr. Yonas Embaye didn’t go in public in an effort to make his assertion genuine. This letter is thus meant to set the record straight to prevent any similar mistakes in the future as well.
14. Our Association is also considering taking a legal action against Yonas Embaye, if he continues to ignore our well-intentioned requests. We declare zero tolerance to any attempts to take advantage of the desperate situation of Eritrean journalists for purely individualistic ends.
Our concern is simple: Eritrea has more than its share, real persecuted journalists (the greatest number in the world for that matter) and their heartbreaking testimonies. We don’t need to add another one- a false one at that.
The Association of Eritrean Journalists in Exile (AEJE) is a non-profit organization, registered in Sweden, and its members are exiled Eritrean journalists who are now residing in different parts of the world; Africa, Europe and North America. The Association can be contacted at: 
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Association of Eritrean Journalists in Exile. (AEJE)
1. Khaled Abdu
2. Yohannes Tesfamariam
3. Meron Estifanos
4. Mehari Abraham
5. Semret Seyoum
6. Minassie Habte
7. Tedros Abraham
8. Yousuf (Poulicy)
9. Amal Ali
10. Samuel Ghebrehiwet
11. Berhane Tewelde
12. Biniam Simon
13. Selah M. Zain
14. Hamedawad Mohammed
15. Yonas Welderufeal
16. Taezaz Ghebresellasie
17. Ahmed Sharif
18. Eyob Biemnet
19. Yassin Ahmed
20.Mohammed Ahmed Edris
22. Amanuel Eyasu (assenna.com)
23. Yosief Fessehaye
24. Hailebab Kidane
25. AbdelAziz Mohammed
26. Yosief Alazar
27. Tedros Ghebru
28. Aron Berhane
29. Kidane Beyene
30. Milkias Mihreteab
31. Ghezae Hagos
Comments
And you can pay attention to what I have said. What you
do for them who are in jail ?. Since 18 September 2001 they are in secret and unauthorized place of detention. And no
action Some of them forget to advocate our people once they foot is in Europe. And enjoying the free speech in the western world, and If some one like me taken action to do something everything Is written to accuse him that’s why everyone is silence and no taken action .
I concerned that I don’t forget them those who are suffering in place of detention.And I imagine that am with them. Not only in my mind I was with them and I know what happening to day And in unauthorized place of detention . I fought for equality through the political process. And changed the rule of fear and torture in Eritrea. No one can’t stop me to do that including you and EFDJ
permit ion?
This is not about any higher social purpose like truth-telling, freedom of press, human rights, refugees, detained journalists, or national interests. The fight seems to be about who gets money from foreign sources. The clue seems to be in item number 12. This is a "dog eat dog" world of giving primacy to self-interest. Anyway, have a happy May 24
Peace, justice and democracy to ALL.
እወ ኩልና ሓደ ልቢ የብልናን ግን ሓደ ህዝቢ ኢና፡፡ ኢሳያስ ክጻረፍ ከሎ "ኣበይ ዘሎ ህዝቢ እዩ ? እንተሎ ፈርሲ እንተሞተ ዱኽዒ" እናበሎም ኸሎ ኣብቲ ህግድፍ ዘዳለዎ በዓላት ዝቋጻጸየዉ ኣለዉ፡፡ ከምዚ ኸማይ ከኣ እዛ ጽብቕቲ ኤርትራ እናትዓመጸት ፤ እናተቐጥቐጠት፤እናተዋረደ ት፤እናተናዕቐት፤ እናተመዝመዘት፤ ደቃ መሰሎም ተገፊፉ እናተዋረዱ፤ ዮሃና happy birthday ክብል ሕልናይ ስለዘየፍቅደለይ፤ ሰናይ ዘመን የምኣጽልኪ ካብዞም ማፍዮሲ ህግድፍ ይገላግልኪ፤ ሕድሪ ስዉኣትኪ ነኽብረሉ ግዜ የርእይየና ብምባል የሕልፍዎ፡፡
This is why Eritrean struggle for change and democracy taking this long and will even take longer unless we start acting in a sense of togetherness. Lets say Yonas is as you have portrayed here, the thing I didn't understand is why go this far to say all these about these poor fellow country man? Do you think all assylum seekers throughout the world tell the truth to secure the legal status? we all know the truth so instead of focusing on such minor details of indviduals it would have been better invest your valuable time on strengthening Eritreans' struggle for justice in our country so that our people don't have to seek refugees in other countries. So please focus on the big picture instead of dewelling on "tseleme" you all are smart people and should now better.
You do not need to stretch the case of Yonas Embaye just to be able to satisfay the AEJE. You need to be able to weigh the merit and demerit of the case instead of rationalizing it. you have created new ideas, which AEJE did not assert and words, which have not yet been heard from Yonas Embaye. Please take a note that we Eritreans, as long as we are not abe to be fair and just on apersonal, group or societal level, it is not conceivable to get out of the quaqmire that we are in: the dictatorial regime.
yonas were you ever a journalist/ WHY LIE? you are not the only refugee, man.
simple question.. Were you a journalist? if yes when and which newsaper..simple question? who knows you as journalist,,,ju st mention ONE PERSON,,,only one person...? Thank you,,,Yonas,,,a nswer the questions
to those who talk 'gual neger'...Haqqi is Haqiii...point is one if Yonas Embaye was a journalist, then he could answer one of these questions..If not, the AEJE is right to expose himm...
Haqiii..just Haqiii...zereba qum neger yeblun...
Talking about this guy called Yonas, he is an opportunist and slightly confused. He is a temperamental guy. Instead of answering the questions, he is waffling about other things. Let us live him in peace, he needs medical and psychological helps like any Eritrean.
I hope, nezi wesidkumo zelekum sgumti dagmay gmt gerkum nezi seb nab zikefie segem keywedik zikealekum kitgebru emo kalie zinibeb n libi zeresris neti kem deki zagra fah elu zelo eritrawi ab hade temiru n sebiawi (human) natsinetna kemnekalatif zigebr suhufatn zenatatn ketekribu.
kindizi ziakil list journalist teakibkum n hawikum ahlifkum kithbu gn aygidinin. Kemzi aynet segemat kem nay ahwat ab geza zegatimom segem riekum ab internet yikun kalie bota zeymisihaf zihashe eyu.
Nihnas, Agonay ms chifriu(Iseyas ms korakuru) tetahizu wey meytu zibl suhuf wey kea ezi kifsem metan zekelatif suhufat kenibib ember nezi nihade b agonay giday zikone melisku giday zigebr sihuf kenenibib aytesebenan.
Dehar kea meliakiti(angel s) aykonkumn haki nay gdn kitizarebu ayedlin eyu, eti haki n kalsi eritrawiyan aberkito zeyblu entekoynu bensaru libi eritrawiyan zehizin entekoynu wela haki yikun mshafu agedasinet zelewo aymeslenin
2. Eti zigedede meziz nayzi sihfkum gn,,,, the world will not trust whatever story an eritrean tells them.
The issue could have been solved very easily by discussing with him or other people who can convince him to change his route.
The measure you took indicate how much we eritreans became delicate, sensitive, and emotional. moreover It really indicate that how much you group are far away from the real life of eritrean refugees. Ezi ab eritra zelo kunetat, moyaka tray zeykone, smka wn zekeyr kunetat eyu. slezi nezi kunetat mara zirehakimo timeslu alekum ahatn ahwatn.
Ezi yonas zibehal seb zibelo violation of human right kuluna nifelto eyu degimu, zikone hasot zelewo aykonen. Nsu journalist mkanun zeymkanun eyu eti hito. Ezi guday kea haku yikun aykun bezeyegedis, n alem(world) mhbar wela hanti tikimi zelewo aymesiln. Bensaru gn abi mezez alewo.
1. Ezi seb (bhaki journalist entezeykoynu) nmntay yihsu kemzelo fulut eyu n eritrawiyan. Kabtom tehabiekum ab internet tray tisihfu wn natu sigumti yibels, mkniyatu ab godena wesiu bdifret eyu nezi ab eritra zelo kunetat kigelis fetinu. Slezi bezi nskum sihfkumo zelekum nezi seb ezi n zimesie mekera yikun kalie segemat ahlifkum hibkumo alekum malet eyu. kemzimesleni, n kulu eritrawi zihzin srah ekum serihkum zelekum. bzitekimn zeytekimn kitikayeku, azabie(hayna) asmara kea sirhom bzeysegem yiserhu alewu.
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