The Prisoner

The Prisoner

By Haben Zeray

“It was better during the Derg, at that time the Ethiopians tortured us, but that made us only more determined in our struggle to become independent.  Today, it is our own people who torture us, something which breaks down our spirit as there is no hope for the future. “ Eritrean refugee in Sudan (2008).

I wrote this small poem just to remember all those who are in Eritrean prisons for expressing their views and venting their feelings.  The Eritrean government will go down in history as one of the cruelest governments, who punishes to hurt and who tortures to kill.  They use tools that torture people and imprison in containers not fit for humans, and illegal by Human Rights Watch standard.  Many have gone insane because of hot and cold variations of their spaces, and many have become legally blind because of abrupt movements from very dark to very sunny or bright areas.  Most  governments of the world have also prisons but those are used to keep criminals away for protection purposes, or to discipline for criminal deeds in their community.  But Issays has  paved the way and has become the prime example to tell his followers that Eritreans can only be contained by “Stick” and intimidation.  This has become the PFDJ’s  legacy.  It is a dark legacy.

There will be time when everything will be exposed and history books will be written about the thousands of detainees who have been tortured inhumanely.  People like Abdulla Jaber, Yemane “Monkey” will come to the forefront when they stand in front of the soon to come Democratic Eritrea and answer for the torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment and punishment.  Their methods used to torture should be judged from the International standard and get their justice based on that.

Methods like, “the helicopter”, where the victim is tied with a rope by and  feet behind and back, lying on the ground face down (sometimes even suspended in the air), outside in the hot sun, rain or freezing cold nights, stripped of upper garments.

“The Otto”, where the victim is tied with hands behind the back and left face down on the ground, but without the legs tied.

“jesus Christ” , the victim is stripped to the waist, wrists tied, and standing on a block with hands tied to a tree branch: the block is removed, leaving the victim suspended with the feet just off the ground in a crucifix-like posture.  Beatings are inflicted on the bare back.

“Ferro” , “Torch”, “Almaz” etc are some of the most gruesome degrading punishments given to Eritreans by PFDJ and its chairman President Issayas Afwerke.   A lot of eye-witnesses and former detainees who survived are penning up and sharing with the world.  All of these methods are followed by severe beatings.

The prisoner

One bullet you are dead in a hurry
Would be a gift in the land of the furry.
You rise at 5:00 am for interrogation
Tied on a tree, beaten to bleed with no justification.

Thrown back into the cell for the tears to dry
Though there is no energy left to vent and cry.

At 8:00 am we are herded to the field
Unable to walk for my feet are full of wound.
Gets pushed and shoved by the frustrated guard
Hurry! He shouts and beats me hard.
All this to answer the call of nature
The gun on my head and continuous torture.
I go back to my cell and find it ten degrees hotter,
The weather cooperates with the frustrated soldier.
Water please! I cry with a dry throat,
A cup of tea with a crumb of bread is what he brought.
Sweat all over with pain and agony,
Flat on my face I wished for slavery.
Broken spirit with a lost dignity
I am confused completely with their cruelty.

What did I do? What is my fault?
Could it be what I said or wrote?
But what if I say anything or I write?
Isn’t  It too much already when I lost my sight?
This goes beyond the physical torture
All the struggle since 1974
Sad incomprehensible closure.
Prohibited to talk,
No media to ask.
Mental anguish inside
Suicide?

NO way, not today.
It is now 8 pm I can feel the chill in my bones
Sleeping on the floor with pillow stones.
Twelve years of interrogation
Twelve years of submission
Slow torturous murder
Let it be! I shall not surrender.
I wish:
One bullet you are dead in a hurry
Would be a gift in the land of the furry.


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