Remembering the Journey to Wi’a Detention Camp

By S. Y.

Excerpts 

Much have been said about WiA detention camp, and the situation in which the students were. It was one of dark spots in the history of Asmara University and Asmara university students.  As a student of the University, I had been through all the sufferings the students had gone (e.g., WiA detention camp and the forced summer work program in the malaria infested area of Alighider). As we all know, the event at WiA took the life of two students, and many others encountered health problems, including mental illnesses. I am a witness to the barbaric treatments the PFDJ and their military leaders have had on the students. It may seem too late to come across such a witness, but as we all know and imagine it is always risky to write such kind witnesses while at Asmara. I have been thinking of writing such a brief witness since that moment, but it was not easy for me until I left the country and I knew about the Eritrean Human Rights Archives quite recently. I am now trying to write briefly on an event that I will never forget as long as I am alive. 

On the courthouse gathering

On the 10th of August, hundreds of students gathered on the courthouse to hear Semere Kessete’s verdict. While a number of students in the courthouse, tens of soldiers surrounded the courthouse and started to threaten and beat the students. They attempted to seize all the students, but since the number of students was pretty big they were not able to seize everyone. A number of students were however picked and forcibly taken to Asmara Stadium not only from the courthouse, but also from different parts of the city. The students spent the night in the Stadium and were taken to Wi’a on the next day.

On Asmara stadium gathering

On the 11th of August, I was told by a friend of mine “we all are asked to report to Asmara Stadium by tomorrow [August 12, 2000]. We were so terrified with the situation and some of our family members were so frightened, and starting from the early morning a number of students started to report. I was actually picked by “military police (MP)” on my way to a friend to ask him about the situation and joined my colleagues at the stadium. Gradually, large number of students was flocked into the stadium and we spent the whole day without having breakfast and lunch. In the early afternoon, heavy trucks entered the stadium and we were ordered to get in to the trucks. There were some students, who questioned and opposed the action, but they brought nothing except further torture and harassment; they were beaten by the soldiers and I remember one student whose arm was broken.

On Yirga’s death

They finally took us to a stream which flows from the Eastern escarpment of the country to the Red sea. Before approaching the stream, Yirga’s condition was getting worse and worse, but nobody was giving any attention to the students who were dehydrated and fainting. Finally, we all arrived at the stream and immersed ourselves in the stream, but Yirga was not able to support himself to move from the river to the river bank. From that moment on wards, he lost his consciousness. We were there many students and tried to help him with all possible means we could …

For a the full story, please press this link: ehrea.org